A recent incident in New Jersey has brought to light the dangers of unlicensed individuals performing dental procedures. A woman named Ana C. Amato was arrested for attempting to conduct a root canal on a patient without a proper license. The patient found Amato through an advertisement on WhatsApp and agreed to pay her $1,000 for the procedure.
On the day of the appointment, Amato injected the patient’s gum with an anesthetic and began drilling his tooth. However, she abruptly stopped the procedure and asked the patient to return later in the week. When the patient came back, Amato informed him that she couldn’t complete the procedure and provided him with a list of licensed dentists in the area.
A dispute arose when the patient requested a refund of his $300 down payment. This led to the patient visiting the police station with gauze in his bleeding mouth to file a complaint. Subsequent investigations by the South River police revealed that Amato was not licensed to practice dentistry, highlighting a growing issue with unlicensed individuals advertising their services on social media platforms.
Amato was arrested and charged with the unlawful practice of dentistry, aggravated assault, and financial facilitation of criminal activity. The police chief commended the officers for their thorough investigation, emphasizing the importance of protecting the public from such fraudulent practices.
The case is still ongoing, and the police are urging anyone with additional information to come forward. It serves as a reminder of the risks associated with seeking medical or dental treatment from unlicensed individuals.
