Moorpark man accused of unlicensed dentistry

A Moorpark man who furnished his apartment with a dental chair, dental tools, anesthetics and false teeth has been arrested on suspicion of practicing dentistry without a license, authorities said Wednesday.

In addition to the felony charge, William Escobar, 40, also was arrested on misdemeanor charges of possessing needles and furnishing dangerous drugs.   

Escobar had "converted his bathroom into a dental office," according to a news release from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, which accused him of running "an elaborate illegal dental operation."

Escobar treated numerous people for dental problems and provided orthodontic care to teenagers, according to the release.

One of his patients complained to police in November after Escobar allegedly threatened him over nonpayment of a bill. Escobar had cleaned the man's teeth, injected him with an anesthetic and examined him for extraction of a tooth, officials said.

The patient could not afford to have the tooth pulled.  He "suffered swelling and pain at the injection site," the release said.

The investigation was conducted in conjunction with the California Dental Board.

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-- Steve Chawkins