A Texas woman who sought the help of a dentist for a toothache did not get relief but instead had several of her teeth pulled by someone posing as a dentist.
The Dallas Morning News reported that Erika Martinez was told that she would have to pay $9,000 for a procedure to get her teeth fixed. Since she could not afford that and did not have dental insurance she turned to the Internet to see if she could get the procedure done at a cheaper price. After consulting with people on Facebook she enlisted the help of Mario Alberto Sabillon-Mejia.
The 33-year-old Sabillon-Mejia allegedly told her that he was a dentist in Honduras, but investigators said that he was not licensed.
“We think he was just getting his experience by practicing on people,” said Lt. Tony Crawford.
Investigators also said that Sabillon-Mejia told Martinez that he would do the procedure for $1,500. He went to her home on May 25 and after allegedly giving her medicine, he and his accomplice, Tiffany Gonzalez, held her down and yanked out five of her teeth.
After the terrifying ordeal, Martinez went to the authorities. Both Sabillon-Mejia and Gonzalez were arrested.
Martinez will now need extensive work to correct her teeth.
Police are asking any other victims to come forward.
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