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Florida has produced its share of jaw-dropping headlines, but this one takes the cake and the teeth. In Pinellas Park, a woman who advertised herself online as a veneer expert was arrested after investigators say she posed as a dentist and used crazy glue to attach veneers to unsuspecting patients. What was supposed to be a shortcut to a brighter smile instead left victims in severe pain, infections, and thousands of dollars in real dental bills. One client, now recovering from the ordeal, summed up the heartbreak with a simple plea: “I just wanted a pretty smile!”
How Bad Dental Fraud Turned Painful
Police say Emely Martinez, who advertised herself as a veneer technician on social media, lured clients to the Tapp Inn Beauty Bar in Pinellas Park with the promise of low-cost, full-mouth veneer makeovers. The deal sounded too good to be true, and it was. Investigators revealed that Martinez was not licensed to do dental work and, perhaps even more disturbingly, relied on ordinary crazy glue to attach the veneers. The consequences were catastrophic: multiple clients developed painful infections, damaged teeth, and needed emergency dental care from licensed professionals.
One victim, convinced she was in safe hands, ended up with complications so severe that she faced hefty dental bills, essentially paying to fix what had been done wrong. It turns out Martinez charged around $3,000 for a 24-veneer smile makeover, while real licensed dentists typically charge $900–$1,500 per tooth.
This isn’t even her first time in trouble. Martinez was previously arrested in Hillsborough County in March for similar offenses and yet continued to operate under various business names.
Rising Public Anger
Social media lit up once victims spoke out. One comment captured public sentiment perfectly: “Using superglue on teeth? That’s beyond reckless, that’s criminal!” Another chimed in,
“I just wanted a pretty smile”, how do you turn that into a medical emergency?”
Authorities confirmed their unit is now investigating whether Martinez offered other procedures, like tooth extractions or treatments on minors. The community is left shaken but vigilant, reminded that too-good-to-be-true healthcare claims often are.
