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Fake dentist ‘botched’ patient’s root canal, causing ‘tremendous’ pain, Texas cops say

A woman pretending to be a dentist performed a root canal on a patient, Texas authorities say.
A woman pretending to be a dentist performed a root canal on a patient, Texas authorities say. Unsplash via Note Thanun

A woman was arrested after Texas authorities said she performed a dental procedure on a patient who believed she was a licensed dentist.

But Angelica Vivas was not, according to court records filed in Harris County. She has now been charged with practicing dentistry without a license, court records show.

Authorities said Vivas, 46, performed a “complex dental treatment” — a root canal — on a patient. When Vivas “botched” the procedure, the patient “suffered a tremendous amount of pain,” according to the court documents.

Vivas, of Katy, agreed to perform dental work on an undercover officer and was arrested, according to court records filed Oct. 22.

As part of her bond conditions, Vivas is not allowed to advertise and offer dental services of any kind.

She was jailed on a $50,000 bond and is due in court Oct. 24

Katy is a western suburb of Houston.

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This story was originally published October 23, 2024 at 10:44 AM with the headline "Fake dentist ‘botched’ patient’s root canal, causing ‘tremendous’ pain, Texas cops say."

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Mike Stunson
Lexington Herald-Leader
Mike Stunson covers real-time news for McClatchy. He is a 2011 Western Kentucky University graduate who has previously worked at the Paducah Sun and Madisonville Messenger as a sports reporter and the Lexington Herald-Leader as a breaking news reporter. 
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