Houston woman arrested for allegedly performing illegal dental services in her home: 'Very alarming'
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A 37-year-old woman accused of performing illegal dental procedures and running the operation out of her northwest Houston home is in jail, according to records.
Investigators arrested Maritza Villatoro at her home Wednesday night while she was doing a cleaning and found what looked like a dentist's office set up in a bedroom.
A neighbor who witnessed the arrest told ABC13 she was shocked to learn what was going on next door.
"It's very alarming, and the fact that someone could get seriously hurt or seriously injured or have a bad infection from something that isn't sterilized," neighbor Tyra Wilkins said.
Villatoro allegedly performed orthodontic work, such as braces and teeth whitening, which investigators said is illegal and very dangerous. Sources said someone tipped off police about what was allegedly happening, which helped them zero in on Villatoro.
In a video captured by law enforcement, the illegal practice was set up in a spare room and showed professional dental machinery surrounding a lawn chair.
At one point, Villatoro did have her dental assistant license, but records show it was revoked when she was convicted of driving while intoxicated with a child in the car in 2021. She also received deferred adjudication in that case.
A charge of practicing dentistry without a license has been filed in this case.
Authorities are now worried Villatoro may have more victims than those who have come forward. If Villatoro provided you with dental work, call the Houston Police Department at 713-308-8800.
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