State agency yanks dentist's license for abandoning patients
<p align="justify">A state agency revoked the license of a Pekin dentist who abandoned two patients, leaving one unable to consume hard foods and the other with a painful toothache.
<p align="justify">The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation said in its January disciplinary report that it indefinitely suspended the license of dentist Albert Beitz.
<p align="justify">The first patient, identified only as J.G. in the report, paid Beitz about $6,000 in advance for dental work including extractions, upper denture, lower partial and crowns, according to agency documents.
<p align="justify">Replacement of J.G.'s temporary crowns was delayed for unspecified reasons, and the temporary crowns deteriorated. The patient could eat only soft foods because of the delay.
<p align="justify">An employee of Beitz informed the patient that the dentist had left the state. The patient was instructed to find another dentist to cement the crowns.
<p align="justify">Beitz performed extractions and made an upper partial plate for the second patient, identified as S.S. in the report. The treatment the patient received led to a painful toothache and other complications.
<p align="justify">The dentist provided no notice to either patient that he would be closing his office.
<p align="justify">Beitz could not be reached for comment. His home telephone number was unlisted, and his office number was disconnected.
<p align="justify">The IDFPR also took disciplinary action against:
<p align="justify">_ Anthony Webster of East Peoria, who was ordered to cease and desist the unlicensed practice of roofing.
<p align="justify">_ Travis Funk of Peru, who had his associate real estate appraiser license placed in refused to renew status for failure to pay Illinois state income taxes.
<p align="justify">_ Catherine Girkin, a registered nurse from Kewanee, who was reprimanded after she self-reported a disorderly conduct arrest and/or conviction.
<p align="justify">Meagan Sexton can be reached at (217) 782-6882 or meagan.sexton@sj-r.com.