Illegal dentistry: What to know about the danger after 2 Long Island busts

Two recent criminal cases involving allegations of illegal dentistry on Long Island have put a spotlight on related safety concerns, including among dentists and industry professionals who are urging the public to be aware of the health dangers it poses.

Earlier this month, Gladys Serrano, 70, of Hempstead, pleaded guilty to practicing dentistry without a license from her kitchen apartment following her December arrest, a Nassau County District Attorney's spokeswoman said Tuesday.

As part of her March 6 plea, Serrano admitted she didn't have a dental license in New York or in the country and had practiced unlicensed dentistry on five people between August 2017 and December 2024, prosecutors said.

A judge sentenced Serrano to a three-year conditional discharge — meaning she won't face other penalties if she doesn't break the law during that time — and she paid up-front restitution of $7,355 and agreed not to practice dentistry in the United States, according to prosecutors.

Serrano's attorney, Rovshan Sharifov, said in an interview Wednesday that Serrano earned a dental school diploma in her homeland of El Salvador, where she has returned, but didn't have a dentistry license in the U.S. 

In another case, last week Suffolk police charged Yolany Y. Mejia Carranza, 55, of Huntington Station, with three counts of unauthorized practice of a profession for allegedly practicing illegal dentistry in a Bay Shore home.

Police have alleged at least three people were injured, including one who suffered partial face paralysis, after Mejia Carranza performed unlicensed dental work in a makeshift home office, Newsday previously reported.

Police said they believe she previously operated such an illegal dentistry business on Broadway in Huntington. They also said Carranza — who pleaded not guilty to the charges — is believed to have targeted the Hispanic community and those without health insurance or legal immigration status.

Eugene G. Porcelli, a practicing dentist and executive director of the Nassau County Dental Society, told Newsday he doesn't believe illegal dentistry is a widespread problem locally, "but even a few bad actors practicing dentistry without a license is a real threat to the public welfare."

Industry professionals also shared other tips with Newsday on the subject.

What are the risks of seeing an unlicensed dentist?

Porcelli said dentists follow a standard of care, are properly trained and use sterile instruments. When it comes to an unlicensed dentist, those same standards may not be followed, he said.

"You don't know their capabilities and whether or not they're competent to even do some of the procedures ... Everything a dentist does, if you really stop and think about it, is surgical," Porcelli added.

He said even filing a cavity involves cutting into the body.

The American Dental Association said in a statement that oral health "is integral to overall health." The association added that dentists "are responsible for knowing a patient's health history, pre-existing conditions and medications" and for "safely managing treatment throughout the course of care."

How can someone find a licensed dentist?

Every state has a board of dentistry responsible for "establishing licensure qualifications; issuing licenses; establishing standards of practice and conduct; and the ability to take disciplinary action when necessary," according to the American Dental Association.

Bill Panzarino, executive director of the Suffolk County Dental Society, suggested patients start with finding a licensed dentist online at the American Dental Association at findadentist.ada.org.

He said people also can confirm a dentist is licensed at the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions website, which has an online license verification search.

What are signs someone is pretending to be a dentist?

Porcelli said two fast rules include that the practice should be in a professional setting and a dental school degree should be prominently displayed in an office. He said while some dentists run practices out of their homes, patients should trust their guts if something feels off and speak up. 

Where can people with low income turn for dental care?

Low-cost dental care options for people can include services provided by community health centers, dental schools and clinical trials, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The website of the Health Resources & Services Administration lists options for free or low-cost health services that are searchable by location at https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.

The Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine offers reduced rates for services and new patients are accepted, according to a Stony Brook University spokeswoman.

Who is most at risk of falling prey to unlicensed dentists?

Dentists said people who are uninsured, have low income, are elderly or are without legal status to be in the country are most at risk of falling prey to unlicensed practitioners. Porcelli said they target those who "are most vulnerable."

John Grbic, a professor and senior associate dean for faculty at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, said Medicare doesn’t cover many dental procedures. Grbic cited the high cost of prostheses, like dentures, as a reason some people might turn to cheaper alternatives that might not be safe. 

"They're shocked and so they will go looking for the least expensive alternatives, which a lot of times they may not be ... a licensed person," Grbic said.