Murrells Inlet dentist accused of using medical role to get drugs for personal use
A Murrells Inlet dentist was arrested by the South Carolina Department of Public Health Friday morning on drug distribution charges, online records show.
Robert Thaden Kroepel, 59, faces seven counts of violating drug distribution law with noncontrolled, imitation controlled substances. He was released Friday afternoon on a $20,000 bond from the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, and was reportedly back in the office by Monday.
According to his arrest warrants, Kroepel illegally obtained Alprazolam and Lorazepam, schedule IV controlled substances, on June 4, 2025. He did so using fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, the warrants state. He used his DEA registration to have the drugs delivered to his office, Sand Oak Dental at 8215 North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, according to the warrants.
He then used the drugs “for his own personal use,” the warrants state, omitting required documentation on the administration or dispensing of the controlled substances.
Online records indicate that Kroepel is no longer active at Sand Oak Dental.
Kroepel now runs New York Dental South, a private dental practice in Murrells Inlet, at 822 Inlet Square Drive, online records show.
New York Dental South did not immediately respond for comment on Tuesday. The office’s website and Facebook accounts were offline as of Tuesday morning.
According to WMBF News, Kroepel was in the office with patients when a reporter visited on Monday.
This story was originally published January 20, 2026 at 9:46 AM.
