A Utah dentist has been charged with child abuse after witnesses told police he forced a child to have dental X-rays without parental consent, KUTV reports.
Blake Matthews, DDS, allegedly held down a pediatric patient for dental X-rays, according to a probable cause statement cited by KUTV. The dentist is also accused of grabbing the child's face to forcibly insert X-ray films into the child's mouth without consulting the minor's parents.
The patient's neck had visible marks and the situation was described as "violent" by a witness, according to the statement. Witnesses heard the child tell Dr. Matthews that "it hurt" and the dentist reportedly said, "If you think that hurts, it is going to hurt more," according to the court document.
The parents were unaware anything had occurred until a dental hygienist, as well as the child, informed them after the exam.
Dr. Matthews was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail.