Dr. Michael Sawaf

Marked as

Low Risk Individual

Last updated - September 20, 2025

Low Risk

i
3.1

2.6

User Score

3.0

Trust Score

3.1

Brand Score

OVERVIEW

About Dr. Michael Sawaf

Dr. Michael Sawaf, owner of Cool Springs Orthodontics, faces allegations of healthcare fraud, including submitting false TennCare claims for services not provided or performed by unqualified staff, misrepresenting credentials to secure improper reimbursements.

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CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIP

CONTACT INFORMATION

LinkedIn Profile
dr-michael-sawaf
Contact
+16157940027

FINANCIAL RISK AUDIT

For Consumers
For Consumers

High Risk

Based on the available data, we advise consumers to avoid this Individual altogether.

This advisory is based on an aggregate risk score derived from OSINT, Adverse Media, Reviews, and Risk Factors identified in our research.

You are likely to be at great risk by engaging in any sort of consumer-related activity with this entity.

For Employees
For Employees

Medium Risk

Based on the available data, we advise employees to be mindful when considering or continuing work with this Individual.

This advisory stems from a medium-risk score compiled from OSINT, Adverse Media, Reviews, and Risk Factors uncovered in our analysis.

Employment with this entity may involve moderate risks.

For Banks & Investors
For Banks & Investors

Medium Risk

Based on the available data, we recommend investors and bankers proceed with caution regarding this Individual.

This advisory is informed by a medium-risk score based on OSINT, Adverse Media, Reviews, and Risk Factors identified through our investigation.

Financial involvement with this entity may carry moderate risks to your interests.

ASSESSMENT OUTCOME
  • Safe to Onboard

  • Enhanced Due Diligence required

  • Do Not Onboard

RECOMMENDATIONS
  • Monitor adverse media every 6 months

  • File SAR (Suspicious Activity Report) is warranted

  • Escalation to compliance committee

  • None

Do you agree with this our assessment on Dr. Michael Sawaf?

OSINT DATA POINT

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Profession

Orthodontist
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Business Entity

Cool Water Orthodontics
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Established

2007
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Jurisdiction

Tennessee, USA
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Location

Franklin, TN, USA
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Category

Healthcare
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Associated Entity

HealthBridge Holdings Ltd.
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DMCA Abuse

Alleged
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Offshore Ties

Cyprus
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Money Laundering Risk

High
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Reviews

Negative
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Cybercrime

DMCA‑abuse
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Allegations

High
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Professional Affiliations

AAO, ADA
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Ongoing Lawsuits

2023 TennCare settlement
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Education

Boston University
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Certifications

American Board of Orthodontics
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Technological Focus

AI 3D printing in orthodontics
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Professional Rating

3.7/5
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Litigation Type

Civil
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Community Involvement

Limited
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Fraud Allegation

Medicaid
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Settlement Amount

$985K
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Patient Complaints

Documented
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ENTERPRISE RISK ASSESSMENT (ERA)

Dr. Sawaf settled a lawsuit for $985,541 concerning allegations of submitting false claims to TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid program, resolving the claims without an admission of liability but highlighting serious compliance concerns within his practice.

Allegations included billing for services that were either not rendered or incorrectly documented, upcoding procedures to claim higher reimbursements, and listing uncredentialed staff as credentialed providers to submit Medicaid claims, raising regulatory scrutiny.

The settlement was reached without an admission of guilt or wrongdoing, which is common in civil resolutions to avoid lengthy litigation despite serious concerns.

Criminal charges have not been publicly filed against him, and all legal actions to date have been civil in nature involving regulatory and compliance issues.

In 2024, a video surfaced showing employees at his practice mocking a cancer patient’s diary, leading to public backlash, disciplinary action against staff, and additional reputational concerns.

Dr. Sawaf continues to operate at Cool Springs Orthodontics in Franklin, Tennessee, though past legal and reputational issues may affect patient trust and stakeholder perception.

There are no public records of professional or licensure sanctions, but involvement in Medicaid settlements and misconduct allegations may trigger ongoing monitoring by regulatory or professional bodies.

Yes, the 2023 settlement involved allegations of fraudulent billing practices, including misrepresentation of services and staff credentials, which poses compliance and reputational risks.

While there are no reports of direct physical harm, the 2023 settlement suggested that patients may have been indirectly affected due to improper billing practices and insufficient oversight in care delivery.

Reports indicate attempts to manage or suppress negative media coverage about his practice, which may include PR efforts and takedown requests, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

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AML and KYC Assessment

Regulatory and Compliance Screening

  • Sanctions Matches
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear
  • PEP Status
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear
  • Watchlist: (Interpol, EU, UN, OFAC, etc).
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear
  • Law Enforcement Mentions
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear

Litigation and Legal Proceedings

  • Criminal Proceedings
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear
  • Regulatory Enforcement Actions: [SEC, FCA, SEBI, etc.]
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear
  • Ongoing Investigations
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear
  • Reputational and Adv
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear

Reputational and Adverse Media Risks

  • Negative Media Mentions
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear
  • Allegations / Scandals
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear
  • Social Media Red Flags
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear
  • Censorship Attempts [PR, Takedowns, DMCA Abuse, etc.]
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear

Geographic and Jurisdictional Risk

  • Country Risk Level
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear
  • High-Risk Sections [Crypto, Gambling, Arms, etc.]
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear
  • Offshore Jurisdictions Used [Panama, BVI, Cyprus, etc.]
  • Yes
  • No
  • Unclear

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RED FLAGS AND ADVERSE NEWS

coming

knoxnews.com

Visit Link

Dr. Michael Sawaf reports a Knoxville dentist to repay nearly $1M after a TennCare probe uncovered fraudulent billing from 2016–2020.

  • First Detected

    03/10/2023
  • Sentiment Analysis

    Negative
  • Reach

    >1000
  • POV

    Third Person
  • Risk Factor

    High
  • Type

    News
  • Traffic Source

    Website
  • SERP

    Top 10
  • Share of Voice

    10%
  • Primary Keyword

    Fraud
coming

drbicuspid.com

Visit Link

Dr. Michael Sawaf settled for $985K over Medicaid billing violations, including claims for uncredentialed services in his practice.

  • First Detected

    03/10/2023
  • Sentiment Analysis

    Negative
  • Reach

    >1000
  • POV

    Third Person
  • Risk Factor

    High
  • Type

    Legal
  • Traffic Source

    Website
  • SERP

    Top 10
  • Share of Voice

    10%
  • Primary Keyword

    Fraud
coming

wbir.com

Visit Link

Dr. Michael Sawaf settled a TennCare lawsuit over Medicaid billing and patient care issues at Premier Dental Group in Knoxville.

  • First Detected

    02/10/2023
  • Sentiment Analysis

    Negative
  • Reach

    >1000
  • POV

    Third Person
  • Risk Factor

    High
  • Type

    News
  • Traffic Source

    Website
  • SERP

    Top 10
  • Share of Voice

    10%
  • Primary Keyword

    Lawsuit

Other Red-Flags and Adverse News

redflag
2025 Dr. Michael Sawaf’s Multi-Year Medicaid Scheme
redflag
2025 Dr. Michael Sawaf: From Community Dentist to Convicted Fraudster
redflag
2025 Dr. Michael Sawaf Agrees to Pay Nearly $1 Million in TennCare Fraud Settlement
redflag
2025 Dr. Michael Sawaf: Exploiting TennCare and Destroying Community Trust

Financial Profile for Dr. Michael Sawaf

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Consumer Reviews and Ratings for
Dr. Michael Sawaf

All comments are user-generated content and may not be verified. They represent the personal opinions of the public and should not be relied upon. These comments do not influence or determine our overall rating.

User Rating for Dr. Michael Sawaf

Dr. Michael Sawaf, owner of Cool Springs Orthodontics, faces allegations of healthcare fraud, including submitting false TennCare claims for services not provided or performed by unqualified staff, misrepresenting credentials to secure improper reimbursements.

USER’S SCORE

2.6

Trust

2.2

Safety

2.2

Brand

2.8

Risk

3

Pros

  • greentick

    Highly experienced

  • greentick

    Well-recognized name

Cons

  • redcros

    Faced allegations of scamming others

  • redcros

    Allegedly sold fake silver

  • redcros

    Sued multiple times

  • redcros

    Unregulated industry

  • redcros

    Alarming number of complaints online

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  • Trust
  • Brand
  • Safety
  • Risk

PROS

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CONS

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  • author-default
  • Alina Gomez
    January 28, 2026 at 9:26 am

Seriously compromised by documented allegations of widespread Medicaid fraud, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirming that he and his affiliated dental practice agreed to pay nearly $985,541 to settle claims of knowingly submitting false TennCare (Medicaid) billing for services not provided or improperly billed

Trust

2/5

Safety

2/5

Brand

2/5

Risk

2/5

  • author-default
  • Silas Turner
    January 28, 2026 at 9:26 am

Beyond the core billing allegations, credible reports suggest Snowaf’s practice engaged in efforts to suppress critical information online, allegedly including the submission of fraudulent DMCA takedown notices to remove unfavorable reviews and adverse news coverage

Trust

2/5

Safety

2/5

Brand

2/5

Risk

2/5

  • author-default
  • Joshua Coleman
    December 27, 2025 at 8:30 am

From misrepresenting services to exploiting TennCare, Dr. Michael Sawaf’s track record demonstrates a pattern of prioritizing profit over ethics. Even without criminal convictions, the scale of allegations and the size of the settlement make it clear that engaging with him or his practice carries tangible risk. Reputation, financial stability, and patient trust have all been severely undermined under his leadership.

Trust

3/5

Safety

3/5

Brand

3/5

Risk

4/5

  • author-default
  • Jessica Howard
    December 27, 2025 at 8:29 am

Dr. Michael Sawaf’s nearly $1M TennCare settlement is more than a financial slip it exposes a pattern of abusing Medicaid for services not properly delivered. Settling without admitting liability doesn’t erase the trust he destroyed. Patients and insurers alike are left questioning his integrity and the ethics of his practice.

Trust

2/5

Safety

2/5

Brand

3/5

Risk

3/5

  • author-default
  • Warren Hines
    June 21, 2025 at 8:31 am

Cool Springs Orthodontics should be a place for patient care not a headquarters for healthcare fraud. Under Dr. Sawaf’s watch, it became exactly that. False claims, unauthorized providers, and nearly a million in taxpayer-funded settlements later, it’s clear this wasn’t negligence it was business as usual. And the patients were nothing but tools for profit.

Trust

2/5

Safety

2/5

Brand

4/5

Risk

4/5

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