New Bedford, Mass.—A Massachusetts dentist has pleaded guilty to fraud and will be sentenced next Monday.  Michael Clair, 53, was accused of defrauding Medicaid of $130,000, assault and battery, illegally prescribing prescription drugs and witness intimidation.  He also is guilty of using paper clips for posts in root canals instead of stainless steel posts.  Using something other than stainless steel makes a patient at risk of infection and can cause pain.  Clair was suspended by Medicaid in 2002, but he used the names of other dentists in his practice to continue and file claims up until June 2005.  His license to practice dentistry expired in Massachusetts in 2008 and was revoked in the states of Florida, West Virginia, and Maryland.  He will be sentenced on January 30.  A single count of Medicaid fraud carries a penalty of up to five years in state prison, while each count of illegal prescription of controlled substances could add up to 10 years in prison.  If you need the advice of an attorney regarding a medical or dental malpractice case, contact a New Bedford personal injury lawyer today.