PINELLAS PARK, Fla. – A Pinellas County lady is behind bars after police mentioned she carried out dental work with no license, leaving victims in ache and in want of emergency care.
Investigators mentioned Emely Martinez, marketed on social media as a veneer technician, promised smile makeovers. As an alternative, purchasers have been left with infections, broken enamel and hefty payments to repair the hurt.
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What we all know:
Clients met Martinez on the Tapp Inn Magnificence Bar in Pinellas Park, the place she provided full-mouth veneer remedies for a fraction of what they price at a licensed dental workplace. However, officers mentioned the process was removed from skilled.Â
In keeping with investigators, Martinez used loopy glue to connect faux veneers.
“She just isn’t licensed to place in veneers. She has no education to do veneers. And within the state of Florida, clearly you need to be licensed to do any type of work like that,” mentioned Sgt. Windy Vater with the Pinellas Park Police Division.
In keeping with arrest warrants, not less than a few of her victims didn’t know Martinez did not have a license and confronted her about it. Two separate clients reported Martinez to Pinellas Park police after experiencing ache, infections and issues a number of days or a number of weeks after the procedures.Â
Some needed to endure emergency dental work with the intention to save their enamel.
Whereas actual veneers price between $900 and $1,500 per tooth, police mentioned Martinez charged one sufferer $2,500 for his or her total mouth.Â
Martinez marketed a 24-veneer smile makeover for $3,000, promising that it might final 5 to seven years.
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Dig deeper:
This isn’t the primary time Martinez has confronted fees for this crime. Information present she was arrested in March on a warrant out of Hillsborough County for unlicensed dental work. She is due in court docket on these fees on August 29.Â
Regardless of that arrest, police mentioned she continued to function in Pinellas County. Victims within the Pinellas Park instances got here ahead in June and July.Â
Authorities are actually investigating claims that her providers went past veneers. Detectives are investigating claims she could have additionally pulled enamel and even tried dental work on youngsters.
What they’re saying:
The American Dental Affiliation (ADA) issued a warning in 2024 about so-called “veneer techs.” They’re unlicensed people promoting themselves as veneer technicians on social media – a service that may solely be carried out by a licensed dentist.Â
In a press release, the ADA cautioned: “Any dental process which will alter the bodily construction of a person’s enamel, gums or jaws with out the supervision of a dentist has the potential to trigger irreversible hurt.”
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Native perspective:
Police mentioned Martinez’s victims have needed to pay 1000’s of {dollars} to licensed dentists to restore the injury. Some required therapy for painful infections earlier than their enamel may even be fastened.
“They really have needed to pay 1000’s of {dollars} to get their enamel fastened, and a few of them needed to look forward to the an infection to clear and go get their enamel fastened,” Sgt. Vater mentioned.
What you are able to do:
Investigators consider Martinez could have been performing unlicensed dental work since not less than January. They encourage anybody who could have obtained therapy from her to contact Pinellas Park police.
They mentioned she has modified her personal identify and operated beneath completely different enterprise names at varied factors.
It’s simple to confirm if somebody is licensed: Dental professionals will be checked by means of the Florida Division of Well being’s web site.
The Supply: Sources for this reporting embrace interviews with Pinellas Park police, arrest warrants, court docket data, info from the American Dental Affiliation and ads from the enterprise.
