Mutilations, interrupted care, fraud: an association bringing together victims of low-cost Dentexia dental centers will file a collective complaint with the Ministry of Justice on Sunday, and with the Paris District Court on Monday, in an attempt to revive the investigation opened in 2016, which has "been at a standstill."
Dentexia, liquidated in 2016 after four years of operation, brought together various dental centers in the form of an association, notably in Paris, Lyon, Vaulx-en-Velin (Rhône) and Châlon-sur-Saône (Saône-et-Loire).
Numerous complaints from patients who were poorly treated or abandoned during treatment led in 2016 to the opening of a judicial investigation, notably for deceptive commercial practices, illegal practice of the profession of dental surgeon, violence followed by mutilation or permanent disability, organized fraud and money laundering.
More than 1,500 complaints have been filed. But since the indictments of founder Pascal Steichen, his wife, and the treasurer in 2018, the investigation "has stalled," laments Abdel Aouacheria, vice-president of the association La Dent Bleue, which has 200 members, "two-thirds" of whom are victims of Dentexia.
Due in particular to the "massive nature" of the case, the justice system, "which lacks resources", is struggling to do its job, and "the (third) investigating judge who took over the case, and received the association in May 2024, is not certain of being able to" establish responsibilities, regrets Mr. Aouacheria.
The case is complex, involving "mutilations, treatment paid for but not provided, but also a financial dimension, a nebula of commercial companies, the granting of abusive bank loans...", he explains.
Furthermore, "it is difficult to incriminate dentists" because those listed on the prescriptions were often nominees. Those providing the treatment could be "newly qualified dentists from Romania, Portugal, etc.," he adds.
The victims, for their part, "are worried about the future holding of a trial." To show that they "will not give up," the association will become a civil party by filing a class action complaint. It hopes to relaunch the investigation and "assist the justice system" by "grouping the complaints into different categories."
About ten members of the association will carry out a symbolic action on Sunday: they will broadcast a sound art composition created from the voices of some sixty victims, before filing the complaint with the ministry. On Monday, the complaint will be officially sent by registered mail to the Paris judicial court.
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