Here are four instances of individuals practicing unlicensed dentistry, as reported by Becker’s since Feb. 20:
- A New York woman was charged with running an illegal dental practice inside of a house. Yolany Mejia Carranza, 55, was arrested after detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Huntington, N.Y., and discovered a fully functioning dental office.
- Uriel Cortes, of Hesperia, Calif., was charged with prescribing a controlled substance without treatment, furnishing controlled substances, forging or altering a prescription, unauthorized practice and practicing dentistry without a valid license.
- A man from Hidalgo, Texas, was arrested on suspicion of practicing dentistry without a license or permit. Gerardo Casas, 50, was charged with three counts of dentistry act violations for allegedly performing tooth removals and measuring for dentures on three individuals.
- An Ecuadorian man was sentenced for conspiracy to introduce misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. Daniel Pinos, 30, reportedly traveled to the U.S. several times to provide dental care and prescription drugs in return for payment, despite not being licensed to do either.
