Palm Bay man accused of being a illegal denist

Patient says pliers used on her tooth

1:53 PM, Jan. 13, 2012  |  

5 A Palm Bay man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly extracting a woman’s tooth with pliers at his home.

Karina Martinez of Melbourne suffered nerve and bone damage, and she says she might need surgery to repair damage to her tongue.

John Jairo Tibaduiza, 49, faces charges of practicing dentistry without a license after Martinez identified him as the person who pulled her tooth at 1296 Lingen Ave., according to Detective Michael Pustere of the Palm Bay Police Department.

Tibaduiza charged $150 for the extraction and used what the witness described as pliers, according to police. Tibaduiza claimed to be a dentist in Colombia 20 years ago.

Police say Martinez was in pain but didn’t have much money when she went to Tibaduiza.

“Some people are just in the situation where they don’t have much choice but to go with what is inexpensive,” Pustere said. “But you’ve got to make sure the person you go to for treatment is licensed. Obviously if they are doing health treatment out of their home, you should avoid it.”

Suffering in October from complications after the tooth extraction, the victim went to Dr. John Ottesen, who works for a dental clinic in Fellsmere. Ottesen filed a complaint with the state Department of Health.

Tibaduiza was the subject of a deportation order which was on hold due to his health, according to police.

Tibaduiza was released Thursday from the Brevard County Jail in Sharpes on $5,000 bond.

Police recieved an initial report about Tibaduiza in March 2010, but witnesses did not cooperate with investigators and Tibaduiza denied the allegations of performing dentistry without a license.

Anyone with information about this case can call the Palm Bay police at 321-952-3456.