Boys' Teeth Harmed By Woman Posing as Dentist, Search Warrant Says

If you hear from another parent that a private dentist can put braces on your child’s teeth for less than one-fifth of the cost of other dentists, it’s probably too good to be true.

Two 12-year-old boys have recently begun experiencing pain, inflammation, bleeding and, in one case, gingivitis, after having their braces put on at a home in the 1500 block of South Grand Avenue, according to a search warrant filed Friday in Waukesha County Circuit Court.

Waukesha police were made aware of a woman practicing dentistry from the couch of her home after two patients at the Waukesha County Community Dental Clinic had problems with braces being placed on their teeth by someone who did not have a license.

One patient was an adult who wished to remain anonymous. However, the parents of a 12-year-old boy told police they paid a woman $350 to put braces on their son’s teeth. The boy was to come in once a month for adjustments that cost $50, according to the search warrant.

However, after the boy had braces put on his teeth, the boy began experiencing pain in his teeth and gums, strong bad breath and moderate bleeding while he was brushing his teeth. The braces were placed on his teeth incorrectly, the search warrant affidavit states. 

The Wisconsin Independent Dentist Association reported a 12-year-old boy was experiencing problems with gingivitis after the boy’s mom paid $1,000 for the braces procedure at the Waukesha home. The braces were placed too close to the boy’s gum and not placed on all of the required teeth, the affidavit states.

A Waukesha detective called the woman and asked if she could place braces on his 11-year-old daughter’s teeth. The woman met with the detective on Aug. 22 and told the detective, who was working in an undercover capacity, that it would cost a total of $900, which is a “good price” compared to the $5,000 charge he could expect from a dentist’s office, the affidavit states.

The detective rescheduled the appointment for his daughter to Thursday, and Waukesha police served the search warrant on Wednesday.

The woman involved does not have a license to practice dentistry, according to the affidavit.