A New Jersey woman is facing serious charges after police say she posed as a dentist, began a root canal on a patient, and then failed to finish the job.
Authorities say Ana Amato, 49, of Old Bridge, was arrested after a months-long investigation by the South River Police Department. The case started when a man reported what initially seemed like a routine dispute, but officers soon began uncovering allegations that unlicensed dental procedures may have been performed inside the borough.
The patient told investigators he found Amato through a WhatsApp group where she was advertising dental services. He allegedly agreed to pay $1,000 for a root canal and handed over a $300 down payment before showing up for the appointment in September 2025.
Police say the appointment quickly took a disturbing turn. Investigators allege Amato injected the man’s gum with anesthetic and began drilling into his tooth, only to stop in the middle of the procedure and tell him to come back later to finish it. Before that follow-up could happen, authorities say she told him she would not be able to complete the work after all and instead gave him a list of other local dentists.
The situation reportedly got worse when the patient went back and asked for his deposit to be returned. According to reports, Amato refused, and the disagreement escalated. The man then went to police, still with gauze in his mouth, which helped set off the investigation that eventually led detectives to her office.
South River police say Detective Patrick Molina spent months investigating the allegations before authorities carried out a search warrant at Amato’s Main Street business on February 19. During that operation, police arrested her and seized multiple items from the office as evidence.
Amato now faces charges including aggravated assault, financial facilitation of criminal activity, and unlawful practice of dentistry. Police have described the case as highly unusual and say the investigation is still active. They are also asking anyone with additional information to come forward.
The case has drawn attention online because of how bizarre and alarming the allegations sound. A routine dental visit is stressful enough, but authorities say this patient may have walked into something far worse: a root canal started by someone who allegedly was never licensed to perform it in the first place.
