NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A Long Island woman was charged with practicing unlicensed dentistry from the kitchen of her one-bedroom apartment, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Gladys Serrano, 70, was arraigned on charges of unauthorized practice of a profession. She pleaded not guilty and was released under pre-trial supervision with electronic monitoring, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.
"Practicing dentistry without proper authorization poses an incredibly serious risk to public health and safety," Donnelly said. "This defendant's alleged home operation endangered the well-being of at least one person in need of dental care."
According to court documents, Serrano performed dental procedures on a victim who contacted her through a referral for a tooth extraction. When the victim arrived at Serrano's apartment on Greenwich Street in Hempstead, the "office" was set up in the kitchen, divided by a curtain.
A curtain dividing the kitchen where the unlicensed dental "office" was set up.Nassau County DA
Serrano allegedly performed a visual exam and told the victim five teeth needed to be extracted due to decay. She extracted the teeth, provided paper towels to absorb blood, and told the victim to rinse with salt water.
The victim was told to return several times for follow-up visits, but despite paying $1,950 for dental services between July 26 and Dec. 4, the victim never received a properly fitting dental bridge, according to prosecutors.
Tools used in the kitchen where the unlicensed dental "office" was located.Nassau County DA
A search of Serrano's home found a makeshift dental setup, including a patient chair near a sink, used dental instruments, impression molds, extraction tools, and empty vials of medication. Detectives also recovered boxes of single-use dental needles, Amoxicillin capsules, Relaflex, and Lidocaine.
State records show Serrano is not licensed to practice dentistry in New York. She has been ordered to surrender her passport and is restricted from traveling outside New York. Serrano is due back in court on Jan. 8, 2025. If convicted, she faces up to four years in prison.
