NEWARK – A Morris County dentist has agreed to surrender his license and cease practice following allegations that he provided substandard care to seven patients, Attorney General Stuart Rabner and Acting Consumer Affairs Director Stephen B. Nolan announced.

Dr. Bruce Leibowitz, who maintains a dental office in Riverdale, agreed to surrender his license to the State Board of Dentistry on July 1, under terms of the consent order. In the interim period, Leibowitz is on probation and is limited to 15 hours of work per week under the supervision of a Board-approved monitor.

The Board of Dentistry considers the surrender of Leibowitz’s license to be a revocation.

“The Board has acted to safeguard the public’s health and to ensure that licensed professionals follow accepted standards of practice,” Attorney General Rabner said. “We will not allow the public’s trust to be violated in matters of its health care.”

Several complaints filed by patients led to the Board of Dentistry’s investigation of Leibowitz. The complaints indicated an alleged pattern of substandard care in the performance of root canals, crowns and bridge work.

“This matter shows why it is important for the public to file complaints with the Division’s licensing boards,” Acting Director Nolan said. “Our 42 boards oversee the professional conduct of approximately 600,000 licensees on behalf of New Jersey’s residents.”

In addition to the license surrender, Leibowitz agreed to:

• pay $22,250 in restitution to patients and in civil penalties to the state; and
• pay $43,579 to the state to reimburse its costs.
Deputy Attorney General Kathy Stroh Mendoza represented the state in this matter.

###