BAY SHORE, N.Y. (NEWS 12 LONG ISLAND) – Police in New York arrested a woman on Long Island for allegedly practicing dentistry without a license.
“What she’s doing is extremely dangerous,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said.
Yolany Mejia Carranza was arrested for operating a fully functioning dentist office out of a Bay Shore home without a license.
“We do know that she used a localized anesthesia, but nobody was getting the anesthesia necessary for the complex dentist operations that she was conducting,” Catalina said.
The Suffolk County police commissioner believes the 55-year-old was performing all dental services, including root canals and extractions.
Three alleged victims with injuries reported Carranza to the police.
“We have one person that suffered partial facial paralysis,” Catalina added.
In court, prosecutors said Carranza previously operated in Huntington Station, but she moved from that location when she thought she would get caught.
The unlicensed dentist was also targeting her clientele, according to police.
“We believe that she was targeting the Hispanic community, mostly people who did not have health insurance and many of whom may be in the country illegally,” Catalina said.
Carranza is pleading not guilty to the charges against her. She is out of jail on supervised release.
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