A Houston woman posing as a dentist has been arrested after allegedly performing an unlicensed root canal, leaving the patient in severe pain.
According to court documents, Angelica Vivas, 41, is accused of posing as a licensed dentist and performing a root canal on a patient in February 2024.
Vivas reportedly lied to the patient, claiming to be a qualified dentist. The patient experienced severe pain as a result of the procedure.
The patient told KPRC 2′s Corley Peel that when Vivas took out two of her molars trying to get to the tooth that needed a root canal, but couldn’t. According to the patient, Vivas told her there was nothing more she could do, sent her home with some pain meds and told her the root would come out on its own. She paid $800 cash for the root canal and another $300 cash for the molars.
The patient went to a real dentist and has since had surgery to help fix the problems. Right now she can’t feel the left side of her face.
That dentist also encouraged her to call police.
Undercover officers visited Vivas’s office. During the visit, Vivas once again claimed to be a dentist and offered to perform dental work on the officers, according to court documents.
Vivas was arrested on charges of violating the Texas Dentistry Act. She was released on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 24, 2024.
As part of her bond conditions, Vivas is prohibited from advertising or offering dentistry services and is barred from performing any type of dental procedures.