The Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld a ruling against a former Woodbury dentist, suspending his license to practice. Dr. Marko Kamel, who practiced at Woodbury Dental Arts from 2011 until its recent closure, had been found incompetent by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry and an administrative law judge.

The judge found Dr. Kamel had “demonstrated gross incompetence” in treating two patients. The dentist performed multiple surgeries on both patients with very poor outcomes. One patient had at least 12 dental implants in two years of treatment by Dr. Kamel, with at least seven of those implants failing. That failure rate is about 58 percent, which is far above the average failure rate of 1 or 2 percent, the court document states. Kamel advised another patient who had ongoing pain after his implant procedure not to seek treatment at the University of Minnesota. When the patient underwent surgery at the U, evidence of bone fragments and chronic granulation tissue was found around the implants along with significant infection.

Dr. Kamel argued the decision to suspend his license was not supported by substantial evidence.

The two patients filed complaints with the Minnesota Board of Dentistry. The board’s Practitioner Review Committee initiated proceedings that resulted in the hearing before the administrative law judge. That judge found the board could discipline Kamel because he engaged in conduct unbecoming a person licensed to practice dentistry or conduct contrary to the best interests of the public. The board then suspended Kamel’s dental license for “an indefinite period of time.” That prompted Kamel to file his court appeal.

The Court of Appeals found in its ruling that the judge “made extensive and thoughtful findings and reached a decision after weighing the evidence presented and making credibility determinations.”

State officials in California are now trying to revoke his dental license there.