Patients frustrated as Independence dental office suddenly closes

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Multiple Wright Dentures and Implants patients contacted FOX4 with concerns.

They showed up at the dental office earlier this week for scheduled appointments only to find a note on the door stating that the office was closed due to unforeseen circumstances. The sign also says the office phone is not working.

Patients haven’t been able to reach the office to find out why it’s closed and if or when it could reopen.

“It’s hard to believe that a place like that would close down without somebody being in charge, to at least answer a phone,” Roberta O’Dell, a Wright Dentures and Implants patient, said. “I mean, after all, you are a business. You should be able to answer the phone and tell somebody when they can return.”

O’Dell said she started having issues with the dentures she received from their office about two months ago.

“I went to them because I thought they were an older company, and I thought they would be good,” O’Dell explained. “When I went back I told them the new dentures I got from them were not lasting like my old dentures that I had no problems with. And she said, well, leave them here, and that was it. “We’ve been trying to get a hold of them ever since, but no answer.”

Wayne Burnam says he’s spent thousands of dollars at Wright Dentures and Implants over the last year.

“It might come out to $9,000 that I’ve paid him so far, and I still don’t have the dental work done,” Burnam said.

“Tell me why you put up a sign that says due to unforeseen circumstances. If you knew you were going bankrupt, surely you would have known that. Or if it’s a death in the family, or if the air conditioner went out and they closed their office. I don’t know what’s going on. Just give me a number where I can call somebody to tell me what’s going on .”

Dr. Brian Jenkins runs the office in Independence. He’s been sued multiple times in the last four years for allegations of malpractice.

Three cases against Jenkins are ongoing or pending. Another is scheduled for trial next year.
Other lawsuits in the past four years that were filed against Jenkins were dismissed.

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