A string of recent arrests across the United States is drawing attention to the risks of unlicensed dental care, with authorities in New Jersey, Florida and Illinois accusing individuals of performing dental procedures without proper credentials — in some cases leaving patients injured or hospitalized.
New Jersey: unfinished root canal leads to arrest
In South River, N.J., police arrested Ana C. Amato, 49, after a patient reported complications from an attempted root canal arranged via a WhatsApp group chat. According to a criminal complaint, the patient agreed to pay $1,000 and put down a $300 deposit. During a Sept. 22 appointment, Amato allegedly injected anesthetic and began drilling before stopping. The patient later reported the incident to police — still bleeding and with gauze in his mouth — after a dispute over the deposit. Investigators say Amato was not licensed to practice dentistry. She was charged with unlawful practice of dentistry, aggravated assault and financial facilitation of criminal activity.
Florida: undercover sting at alleged home clinic
In Miami‑Dade County, Fla., deputies arrested Karim Selene Cordova Rivera after arranging an undercover tooth‑extraction appointment at a residence in Brownsville. Court records cited by CBS Miami say Rivera holds a dental license in Peru that is not valid in the United States and she does not appear in Florida’s licensing database. She faces five felony charges, including practicing dentistry without a license and violations tied to controlled substances and biomedical waste.
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Illinois: patient hospitalized after in‑home procedures
In Granite City, Ill., prosecutors charged Idania J. Morena‑Paal, 41, and Rudolfo/Rodolfo J. Figuera, 59, with practicing medicine without a license after alleged dental procedures at a residence. A woman told police she paid $850 cash for molar treatment between mid‑August and early September 2025; investigators say Morena‑Paal injected an unknown substance and provided medications. Days later, the patient returned and an infected tooth was extracted by a man identified as Figuera; the infection worsened, leading to emergency hospital care. A search warrant executed Oct. 30, 2025 recovered dental instruments, narcotics and other medications, cash and multiple phones; filings also cite social‑media photos of dental instruments and blood‑covered teeth. Officials say neither individual has held a medical or dental license. Both were released pending court proceedings.
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Tracking remains difficult
The true scope of unlicensed practice is hard to measure: the U.S. has no centralized national database, so officials and reporters rely on state enforcement actions and industry reporting to gauge scale. Even so, at least 11 unlicensed‑dentist cases were documented nationwide in 2025, according to a Becker’s Dental Review tally.
Global blind spot
An FDI World Dental Federation survey of 49 national dental associations found 68.4% reported no estimates of illegal dental practice in their countries; 23.3% did not know whether such data existed; and only 8.3% said an estimate was available.