A New Jersey woman was arrested for performing dental work without a license after she attempted a root canal on a man’s choppers but couldn’t finish the job, cops said.
The patient told investigators he had scheduled an appointment with Ana C. Amato of Old Bridge after he saw her advertising in a group chat on WhatsApp, South River police said.
The man told cops he agreed to pay her $1,000 for the procedure.
When he arrived for his Sept. 22 appointment at her office in South River, Amato, 49, allegedly injected his gum with an anesthetic.
She then drilled his tooth and started the procedure before abruptly stopping, and told the man to return later in the week, according to cops.
But before he went back to have the procedure completed, Amato informed him she couldn’t finish the procedure and gave him a list of dentists in the area who could complete the work, cops said.
When the man returned to the office to retrieve his $300 down payment, she refused — resulting in an altercation, cops said.
The man turned up at the police station to complain on Sept. 27, with gauze in his bleeding mouth.
South River police launched a investigation, and over the next few weeks, they determined the Amato was not licensed to practice dentistry, a growing problem with ads on social media.
Amato was arrested and charged with unlawful practice of dentistry, aggravated assault, and financial facilitation of criminal activity, South River Police Chief Tinitigan said.
“What began as a routine dispute call demonstrated why thorough police work matters,” Tinitigan said. “Sgt. Roselli and Officer Szukics recognized that something did not add up and took the extra steps necessary to protect the public.”
The case is still ongoing. Police are asking for any community members with additional information to contact Det. Molina at 732-254-9002 ext. 113.
Amato could not be reached for comment.