Texas authorities have arrested a man accused of illegally practicing dentistry and causing serious harm to a patient.
Officials say 47-year-old Cesar Augusto Perez Mejia was running an unlicensed dental practice out of his Houston apartment, where he allegedly used pliers to extract a woman’s tooth, leaving her with a broken jaw.
According to Houston police, the incident occurred on September 30, 2024. Mejia allegedly administered anesthesia before attempting the procedure, but things took a horrifying turn when he broke the woman’s tooth and severely injured her jaw. The victim required hospitalization due to the damage caused.
Authorities say Mejia was charging $250 or more for his services. Neighbors told reporters that many people visited his apartment seeking low-cost dental procedures. However, police have made it clear that Mejia had no professional training or legal certification to perform any dental work.
Charges were officially filed against Mejia on Monday, and by Wednesday afternoon, he remained in the Harris County Jail with a $90,000 bond. Court records confirm he is facing charges of practicing dentistry without a license and aggravated assault.
This is not the first time Mejia has been in trouble with the law. Back in February, he was arrested for allegedly attacking a woman with a screwdriver. The victim, Alejandra Moncada, told reporters that Mejia mistook her for the mother of someone who had damaged his car.
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“I was sitting down, and he came out with a screwdriver and was assaulting me,” Moncada recalled. “We had to call the cops, and when they arrived, he was still on a rampage.”
Authorities and dental professionals continue to warn the public about the risks of receiving treatment from unlicensed individuals. The American Dental Association (ADA) has stressed that unsupervised dental procedures can lead to serious complications, including nerve damage, infections, and irreversible harm.
Each state requires dentists to be licensed to ensure patient safety. However, cases of unlicensed practitioners are on the rise across the U.S. Just this month, a New York woman was arrested for running an illegal dental practice that reportedly left patients with nerve damage and partial facial paralysis.
Houston police also encountered a similar case last year when they arrested a woman promoting her illegal dental services on TikTok. Authorities said she replaced 16 teeth for one victim, but due to improper placement, the patient experienced severe pain, and one tooth even fell out.
Law enforcement officials are urging the public to verify credentials before seeking medical or dental treatment. Authorities stress that while illegal dental work may seem like an affordable option, it comes with life-altering risks.
Mejia is set to face legal proceedings in the coming weeks as police continue investigating his unauthorized dental practice.
