Gold Coast based Smiles Inclusive is facing a rebellion from its own dentists who have quit the company following a string of management problems and the loss of its chief executive.
The ASX-listed company today questioned claims that 16 of its 98 Totally Smiles dentists had walked out and claimed it was on the verge of a major deal and was in “advanced negotiations” over a transaction that would materially improve its financial position and provide it with capital to continue through the remainder of the current temporary shutdown and beyond.
The company said it had received notice from Dr John Camacho purporting to represent 16 of Totally Smiles’ 98 dentists, seeking to terminate their service agreements.
The notice allegedly accuses the company of incompetence.
“The company is in the process of contacting the dentists named in Camacho’s letter to understand their intentions and is committed to work with them wherever possible,” it told the ASX.
“The majority of those dentists have informed the company that they were unaware of Camacho’s letter to the company and have stated that it is not their intention to terminate their service agreements.
“At present, all of the company’s practices are temporarily closed other than for emergency procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the advice of public health authorities.
“The immediate priority of the board and management is to effectively manage the current public health crisis to ensure the safety of the Company’s people, patients and the general public, and to mitigate the impacts on the business.”