A Florida woman has been arrested for conducting unlicensed dental procedures, reportedly leaving patients with infected and damaged teeth after using superglue to apply fake veneers. Emely Martinez, 35, is accused of practicing dentistry without a license, fraud, and causing harm through the use of cyanoacrylate glue, commonly known as superglue.
Martinez operated her dental practice under the name Tapp Inn Beauty Bar in Pinellas Park, where she advertised herself as a veneer technician. Patients reportedly paid around $3,000 for full-mouth veneers, with the promise of a lifespan of five to seven years. However, many suffered from severe complications, infections, and the need for costly emergency dental work to correct the damage.
Authorities allege that Martinez may have also performed dental work on children and created multiple businesses under different names to conceal her fraudulent activities. The American Dental Association has previously issued warnings about the dangers of procedures carried out by unlicensed veneer technicians, highlighting the potential for irreversible harm to patients.
Two individuals reported Martinez after experiencing pain and complications following the procedures, leading to her arrest earlier this year in Hillsborough County. Police are investigating whether she changed her name to further obscure her actions and evade justice. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and regulation of cosmetic dental procedures in unlicensed practices, emphasizing the need for stricter oversight in the industry.