Dental Victim Was Left With Lacerated Gums
SALINAS—Officers with the Salinas Police Department arrested 56-year-old Salinas resident Ana Berta Diaz on a charge of practicing dentistry without a license after she tried to extract a tooth from a 32-year-old victim on Saturday, June 27.
On that day, Salinas Police responded to the emergency room of the Natividad Medical Center on a report of a man complaining of a broken molar and lacerated gum. The victim told police that he had gone to the home of Ana Diaz on the 700 block of Leese Drive in Salinas to have a tooth extracted.
Diaz tried to extract the tooth, but after working on it for 90 minutes the tooth broke, leaving the victim in excruciating pain. The victim also told police that Diaz was selling prescription medications to her patients in the form of antibiotics from Mexico.
On Tuesday June 30, Salinas Police paid Ms. Diaz a visit at her home on Leese Drive, and she was present at the time. They were given permission to enter the house, where they saw a makeshift surgical room complete with a dental chair, table and numerous dental tools.
The tools needed to be cared for and the room was not a sterile environment. Police took the dental tools as evidence and arrested Diaz on numerous charges, including practicing dentistry without a license resulting in injury, selling and administering controlled substances, administrating a general anesthesia without a license, all felonies.
The victim had not initially reported the incident to police himself because he speaks only Spanish and is in the country illegally, and was concerned about being prosecuted if contacted by the police. The victim had delayed seeking medical treatment for three days until the pain was unbearable.
Investigators were able to determine that Diaz had been convicted of a similar violation back in 2010. Police believe that Diaz has been performing dental procedures on other people, and are seeking victims to contact them at 831-758-7090.
