A New Jersey woman was arrested after authorities accused her of practicing dentistry without a license. and starting a dental procedure that left a patient bleeding and in pain.
The suspect was identified as Ana Amato, 49, a resident of Old Bridge, New Jersey, who allegedly He posed as a dentist and began a root canal before abruptly stopping it.
Procedure began after contact on WhatsApp
According to police, the patient found Amato’s services advertised in a WhatsApp group chat, where he allegedly offered dental treatments.
Man agreed to pay $1,000 for root canal treatment and went on September 22, 2025 to an office located in South River, New Jersey.
Prosecutors said Amato began the procedure by applying anesthesia to the patient’s gum and drilling into his tooth.
However, according to investigators, the woman stopped the treatment midway through the process and told him to return a week later.
Patient ended up reporting the case while continuing to bleed
Before the follow-up visit could take place, Amato allegedly informed the patient that he could not finish the work and gave him a list of local dentists to complete the procedure.
When the man later returned to demand a refund of a $300 deposit, police say Amato refused to return the money, leading to an altercation that required police intervention.
Afterwards, The patient went to the police station to file a complaint, still bleeding and with gauze in his mouth.which triggered the formal investigation.
Investigation led to criminal charges
The patient spoke with Sergeant Roselli and Officer Szukics, who detected inconsistencies and notified the department’s detective unit.
The investigation was assigned to Detective Patrick Molina, who continued to gather evidence.
South River police subsequently executed a search warrant authorized by the Superior Court of New Jersey at the location where Amato was conducting the proceedings, where they seized several items as evidence.
Amato was charged with illegal practice of dentistry, aggravated assault and financial facilitation of criminal activities.
South River Police Department Police Chief Mark Tinitigan said the case shows how a seemingly minor call can reveal more serious problems.
“What started as a routine dispute call demonstrated exactly why thorough police work is important,” he said.
The chief also praised the work of the agents and detectives who participated in the case, noting that persistence and attention to detail were key to filing the charges.
Authorities indicated that the investigation remains active and asked anyone with additional information to contact Detective Molina.
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