Dozens of former patients left in the lurch by Woodbury Dental Arts are finally seeing some relief. Seventy-six of them have been issued refund checks totaling more than $1 million after state officials tapped a new consumer-protection fund to reimburse people whose dental-implant work was cut short when the clinic abruptly shut down in March 2024. The payouts follow a settlement tied to the clinic’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy and months of claims and outreach from the attorney general’s office.
How the refunds were funded
The money is coming from the Consumer Protection Restitution Account, a relatively new tool that lets the state send funds recovered in enforcement actions back to consumers when a business is bankrupt or otherwise unable to pay. The refunds began after the attorney general’s office settled with the Chapter 7 trustee for Woodbury Dental Arts, according to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.
Refunds sent so far
As of May 1, the state had received 341 refund claims, and officials have already cut 76 checks totaling just over $1 million, according to the Star Tribune. Local coverage also notes that checks are being mailed out and that an online tracker will show progress as more claims are verified, per KSTP.
Attorney general: 'ability to put money back'
Attorney General Keith Ellison said the new fund gave his office “the ability to put money back in the pockets of scam victims” and called the payouts a win for people stuck paying for unfinished treatment, according to local reporting. His office says it will keep verifying claims and contacting consumers who may qualify for reimbursement.
What went wrong at the clinic
Former patients say they paid upfront for implant work that was never finished, and regulators concluded some of the treatment posed an imminent risk of serious harm. Records show the Minnesota Board of Dentistry moved against Dr. Marko Kamel’s license after complaints from patients and others (Minnesota Board of Dentistry). Local coverage reports that Woodbury Dental Arts abruptly closed in March 2024, then later filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and that the settlement with the trustee is what cleared the way for refunds to move forward (FOX 9).
If you paid for unfinished work
Former patients who believe they are owed money are being urged to hang on to proof of payment and any records showing treatment was not completed, then file a claim with the Attorney General’s Office through its established claims process. An online refund tracker is live and will be updated as checks go out, according to KSTP.
Why this matters
The Woodbury case is one of the first big tests of the Consumer Protection Restitution Account and, according to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, the first time the fund has been used to repay consumers left with unpaid services after a business declared bankruptcy. The office also alleges that Kamel and Woodbury Dental Arts violated state consumer-protection laws and says the settlement preserves a path for refunds where bankruptcy alone would likely have left patients with no real way to recover their money.
