An unlicensed dentist from San Francisco has been prosecuted after working for three years and injuring his patients, according to a local newspaper.
Dental implants and emergency dentistry were both administered by Mario Alfredo Pacheco, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Some people paid thousands of dollars for unwanted treatment, including fillings, extractions and root canals, but have been unable to get their money back.
He caused infections by installing dental implants into one victim and was also said to have not sterilised his equipment properly.
The man, who worked in Oakland, was accused of inflicting great bodily injury, practising dentistry when he was unlicensed, risking harm to his patients and administering an anaesthetic to help commit a crime.
A spokeswoman for the district attorney, Nancy O’Malley, described Mr Pacheco’s work as “poorly done”.
Meanwhile, across the pond, the General Dental Council has prosecuted nine illegally-practising dentists in the UK so far this year.