Fake Dentist Busted After Botched Root Canal Comes Back to Bite Her

Around 2:32 PM on February 19, 2026, Detective Patrick Molina and several other officers with the South River Police Department gathered to execute a search warrant inside an office suite at 30 Main Street. The warrant was issued after someone arrived at their station on September 27, 2025 to report that that a root canal had not been done properly and that his “dentist” refused to refund him. This complaint led to the initiation of an investigation, and the officers suspected that someone may be running an unlicensed dental practice.

The “dentist” was later identified as Ana Amato, a resident of Old Bridge. Officers noticed that she was advertising her dental services on Facebook and WhatsApp. After Detective Molina talked with numerous other individuals and established probable cause, he obtained a search warrant to conduct a raid inside the office suite.

The officers forced their way into the office suite, and drew their service weapons as they entered. Shortly after entering, they made contact with 2 females inside, whom they suspected were employees of Ana. The 2 females were immediately handcuffed and detained. However, the officers later learned that they were paying $750/month in rent to operate their unlicensed nail salon within Ana’s unlicensed dental clinic. After they admitted to doing nails without a license, the officers removed the handcuffs and allowed them to leave the premises.

As the other 2 females were being detained, Detective Molina called Ana at her home in Old Bridge. He informed her that her office was being raided as the officers were executing a search warrant. She was told to come over to the office suite, or else they would send officers with the Old Bridge Police Department over to her house. Ana agreed to come meet with the officers at the office that she was renting, and she was immediately placed under arrest.

After Ana was handcuffed, Detective Molina escorted her over to her office, and advised her of her Miranda rights. She waived her Miranda rights and agreed to answer questions. During questioning, she admitted that she was performing dental procedures on others without a license. She also confessed to obtaining anesthetics from other doctors and dentists without going through the licensed vendors. When she was asked about how she got paid, she admitted that her “patients” often made cash payments as well as electronic payments through Zelle.

After she was interviewed in her office, officers escorted her to their patrol car and transported her to the South River Police Department for further processing. Detective Molina and the other officers stayed behind and continued searching the office suite. The search yielded 2 dental chairs, dental drills, resins, and lidocaine. These supplies confirmed their suspicions that she was operating an unlicensed dental practice.

Ana was charged with the following:

-Unlawful practice of dentistry (2C:21-30A)

-Aggravated assault – causing serious bodily injury (2C:12-1B(1))

-Money laundering (2C:21-25C)

As of March 31, 2026, Ana’s case is still pending in court. Detective Molina advised Ana during her arrest that she may face additional charges in the future.

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