Published Date: 26 September 2008
By Allan Hall
A GERMAN dentist overpowered a female patient in her home and pulled two bridges from her mouth because she hadn't paid her bill.

The dentist, from the Bavarian town of Neu-Ulm, is now under investigation for assault and theft after arriving at the woman's home with his medical instruments to perform the unwanted surgery.

Police did not name the dentist or his 35-year-old victim but said he knocked on the door of the woman on Monday evening and, without saying a word, forced her into her living room and tied her hands.

He then forcibly opened her mouth and removed the dental work, worth £320, which the woman's insurance company had refused to pay.

According to the victim, he never said a word throughout the assault.

The local dental association said they could not condone the man's actions but understood his "frustration".

It said the credit crunch had pushed the normal settlement for bills up from 30 days to 60 or even longer.

It is understood that the woman has owed her dentist the money for the bridgework from May.

Police have asked the dentist to give back the bridges so the woman can "eat and speak normally again".

If convicted the dentist faces professional discipline.