LI Woman Performed Unlicensed Dentistry In Her Kitchen: DA

MINEOLA, NY — A Hempstead woman was charged with practicing dentistry without a license from the kitchen out of her one-bedroom apartment, prosecutors said.

Gladys Serrano, 70, was arraigned on Tuesday today on one felony count of unauthorized practice of a profession. She pleaded not guilty and was released to pre-trial services with electronic monitoring. She was also ordered to surrender her passport and is restricted from traveling outside of New York State, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

Donnelly said that, according to the charges, a victim contacted Serrano through a referral to schedule a single tooth extraction on July 26.

The victim went to Serrano’s office, which was allegedly located in a one-bedroom apartment on Greenwich Street in Hempstead with a hanging curtain dividing the kitchen.

After a brief visual examination, Serrano allegedly told the victim that a total of five teeth needed to be extracted because they were rotting, and that the victim would also need a bridge, Donnelly said.

Serrano allegedly extracted the teeth, gave the victim pieces of paper towel to absorb the large amount of blood coming from the area and told her to rinse with salt water, the D.A.'s office said,

The victim was instructed to return to see Serrano several times after the extractions took place.

"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."

A search of New York State records failed to disclose anyone licensed to practice dentistry in the State of New York with the name Gladys Serrano, prosecutors said.

A search warrant executed at Serrano’s residence uncovered a curtain hanging in the kitchen and a patient chair positioned near a sink, with drawers full of dental instruments that appeared to be used, impression molds, extraction tools, tartar scrapers, and a large container containing what appeared to be numerous empty vials of medication and used dental needles.

Boxes labeled as single-use dental needles, Amoxicillin capsules, Relaflex, and Lidocaine were also recovered, Donnelly said.

Between July 26 and December 4, Serrano received a total of $1,950 for dental services.

Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Serrano should contact her the D.SOffice of Immigrant Affairs at 516-571-7756.