Woman Arrested for Running Illegal Dental Practice in Suffolk County
A woman was arrested for running an illegal dental practice straight out of her home in Suffolk County, leaving at least one patient with serious medical complications.
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According to ABC7, 55-year-old Yolany Mejia Carranza was busted after a former patient came forward with disturbing injuries — including nerve damage and facial paralysis. That led Suffolk County police to launch a full investigation. What they uncovered inside her home looked like a real dentist’s office — but she didn’t have a single license to operate.
Illegal Dentist Office Found in Woman’s Home: What Authorities Discovered
When police stepped inside Carranza’s home, what they found was straight out of a medical drama. The setup included dental chairs, tools, anesthesia, and all the trappings of a full-service operation — but with zero regulation or oversight.
No License, No Credentials — Just Painful Procedures
Police confirmed that Carranza had no dental license, yet she was performing complex dental procedures, including extractions and root canals, on unsuspecting patients. Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina confirmed that while Carranza used local anesthesia, it was not nearly enough for the serious procedures she was attempting.
“She used a local anesthesia, but no one was getting the proper anesthesia for the complex dental procedures she was doing,”
Victims Speak Out About Unlicensed Dental Nightmare
One victim told police their life changed permanently after visiting Carranza’s makeshift office — leaving with facial paralysis and lasting nerve damage. Now, authorities fear there may be many more victims who trusted her for low-cost dental services and walked away with long-term trauma.
How Long Had This Illegal Dental Practice Been Operating?
Authorities believe Carranza had been operating her fake dental clinic for nearly eight years — undetected. Investigators suspect she preyed on vulnerable communities, offering cut-rate prices for dental procedures that seemed too good to be true.
Why This Isn’t Just an Isolated Incident
According to the American Dental Association, illegal dental operations have been rising across the country. They warn that without proper sterilization, anesthesia protocols, and credentialed care, patients are at serious risk for infections, botched procedures, and irreversible harm.
Carranza was charged with three counts of unauthorized practice of a profession.
