SAN ANTONIO – A woman who underwent a dental procedure performed by a man who tried to pass himself off as a dentist said she was in so much pain she thought she was going to die.
Isidro de Jesus Manjarres was a former UT Health Science Center dentistry lab technician.
Manjarres dodged KSAT’s questions as he sped away from his north San Antonio home Tuesday night. Investigators said he was passing himself off as a dentist, pulling teeth and treating at least one patient from inside a home in the 200 block of Wayside Drive.
Manjarres’ wife had nothing to say about the allegations. Neighbors said he had people in and out of his home daily for years, and many of them knocked on the wrong door and asked to see a dentist.
Court documents said police got wind of the problem when a patient paid Manjarres $1,800 for dental work, but he quoted her $3,800 to be paid in two installments.
The woman told police Manjarres pulled two teeth, used a grinding tool on her and injected her with anesthesia 12 times during the eight-hour procedure. She contracted an infection and eventually sought help from a real dentist.
The victim had to pay more than $11,000 to fix the damage allegedly caused by Manjarres.
A spokesperson with UT Health Science Center issued the following statement:
"Isidro Manjarres was arrested October 30, 2017 by The University of Texas Police Department and charged criminally for practicing dentistry without a license. Manjarres is a former employee of the UT Health Science Center who worked as a dental laboratory technician with no direct patient contact. UT Health Science Center had no knowledge of Manjarres’ illegal actions of performing dental procedures, which occurred at his residence. The University of Texas Police Department is supporting the active investigation and cooperating fully with local officials. Because of the nature of the continuing investigation, interviews are not being granted at this time.”
Manjarres bonded out of jail hours after being arrested. He faces a felony charge of practicing dentistry without a license.
