US Dentist Surrenders License After Drunken Root Canal Incident

USA: State records from Iowa reveal that Dr. Paymun Bayati, a dentist previously convicted of public intoxication, has surrendered his license to practice dentistry. This development follows accusations of performing a root canal procedure while under the influence of alcohol. According to a report by Clark Kauffman, published by the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Bayati’s case first surfaced late last year when the Iowa Dental Board charged him with practicing in a manner that was “harmful or detrimental to the public.”

The Iowa Dental Board, which is responsible for regulating the state’s dental profession under the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), had suspended Bayati’s license on an emergency basis, citing that he posed an “imminent threat” to the public.

Legal Proceedings and Delayed Hearing

In January 2024, a scheduled hearing with the Iowa Dental Board was abruptly canceled, and a continuance was granted without setting a new date. The situation remained unresolved for months, with no further updates published by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.

However, after the Iowa Capital Dispatch inquired about the status of the case, the licensing authority acknowledged an oversight. The agency disclosed that in April, the Iowa Dental Board had accepted Bayati’s surrender of his dental license. This admission highlighted a failure to publicly update the information earlier, a lapse that went unnoticed until questioned by the news outlet.

Conviction for Public Intoxication

In the same month that he surrendered his license, Bayati was tried and convicted of public intoxication, a misdemeanor charge related to his alleged conduct during the root canal incident. The origins of the case date back to December 7, 2023, when Anamosa police were dispatched to Anamosa State Penitentiary. Bayati, who worked as the prison’s dentist, was reportedly attempting to drive away from the facility in a visibly impaired state.

According to police records obtained by the Iowa Capital Dispatch, the attending officer met with the prison’s warden and deputy warden before encountering Bayati. The officer reported that the dentist “smelled heavily of alcohol” and appeared intoxicated. A subsequent test reportedly indicated Bayati’s blood-alcohol level was 0.158, nearly double the legal limit for driving.

Bayati’s Defense: Allegations of Tampering

Bayati, 59, from Waterloo, has maintained that he does not drink alcohol and that the blood-alcohol test results were due to foul play. He told the Iowa Capital Dispatch earlier this year that he suspected someone, likely his dental assistant, had tampered with his coffee by adding isopropyl alcohol. Bayati argued that this occurred after his arrival at the penitentiary, where he was expected to perform the root canal procedure.

Despite these claims, Bayati was convicted and has since relinquished his right to practice dentistry in Iowa. His surrender of the license marks the conclusion of a controversial chapter for the dentist, though the full details of the case continue to provoke discussion in the dental community.