A Las Vegas woman has been arrested on charges of practicing unlicensed dentistry, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Nov. 29.
Maria Loyomorales, 59, was charged Sept. 13 with eight felonies, including unlawful practice of dentistry and performing surgery on another without a license not resulting in substantial bodily harm. She was booked at a local jail Nov. 17, according to the Review-Journal.
In an arrest warrant, police wrote, "[A witness] mentioned specific patients with dental problems resulting from the treatment by Loyomorales. [They] ranged from crowns falling off, pulling impressions out of the trash from one patient and using them on another, implants placed in the maxillary sinus, and used implants being sterilized and placed in a patient's mouth," according to the Review-Journal.
An investigation by police and the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners found Ms. Loyomorales was the subject of a permanent injunction in 2000 banning her from practicing dentistry without a license, with another injunction issued in 2009.
The latest investigation began in 2019, when a state investigator went to the now-closed Royal Dental Group. Detectives executed a search warrant at the office and found traditional dental equipment, patient medical health histories and insurance verification forms.
One witness told police that Ms. Loyomorales dropped a piece of equipment on the floor during treatment, picked it up and tried to put it in the witness's mouth, reported the Review-Journal.
Another patient claimed a dog wandered around the office as they received treatment, according to police.
Police said one patient paid Ms. Loyomorales at least $24,000 for dental work, while another paid her $5,000 cash and transferred a piece of land to her valued at roughly $20,000, according to the Review-Journal.
Ms. Loyomorales' next court appearance is set for Dec. 21. Her attorney didn't respond to the Review-Journal's request for comment.