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Gladys Serrano, 70, of Hempstead, was arraigned on a felony count of unauthorized practice of a profession in Nassau County Court on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
It came after she conducted dental procedures, including extractions, from a makeshift setup in her apartment on Greenwich Street, according to the DA’s office.
The investigation began after a victim contacted Serrano in July 2024 for a tooth extraction. According to prosecutors, the victim was referred to Serrano’s “office,” which was allegedly set up in the kitchen of her one-bedroom apartment, separated by a hanging curtain.
Serrano reportedly told the victim that five teeth were rotting and needed to be removed, and that a dental bridge was also necessary. After extracting the teeth, Serrano allegedly gave the victim paper towels to stop the bleeding and advised rinsing with salt water.
The victim returned multiple times between August and December 2024, paying Serrano a total of $1,950, yet never received a properly fitting dental bridge, prosecutors said.
When authorities executed a search warrant at Serrano’s residence, they found a patient chair near a sink, drawers filled with dental instruments, impression molds, and extraction tools. Investigators also recovered medication vials, used dental needles, and boxes labeled as single-use dental needles, Amoxicillin capsules, and Lidocaine.
A search of New York State licensing records revealed no evidence that Serrano was licensed to practice dentistry in the state.
“Practicing dentistry without proper authorization poses an incredibly serious risk to public health and safety,” said Nassau County DA Anne Donnelly. “This defendant’s alleged home operation endangered the well-being of at least one person in need of dental care.”
In court Tuesday, Serrano pleaded not guilty and was released under pre-trial services with electronic monitoring. She was also ordered to surrender her passport and is restricted from traveling outside New York State.
If convicted, she faces up to four years in prison.
Serrano is due back in court on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.
The Nassau County DA’s Office is urging anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Serrano to contact its Office of Immigrant Affairs at 516-571-7756.
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