Fake Dentist Used Pliers to Pull and Break a Woman's Tooth and Damage Her Jaws

Cesar Augusto Perez Mejia (Harris County Jail). Background: Apartment where Mejia was running illegal dentist practice

A fake dentist is facing multiple charges after a woman suffered severe dental damage during a procedure. Court records indicate that Cesar Augusto Perez Mejia, 47, has been charged with practicing dentistry without a license and aggravated assault.

On September 30, 2024, a woman seeking dental surgery visited Mejia’s home at the La Plaza Apartments, where he allegedly used pliers to extract a tooth. The procedure resulted in a broken tooth and jaw damage. The woman stated that Mejia administered anesthesia, and she later required hospital treatment due to complications.

Neighbors reported that Mejia had been performing dental procedures, charging patients $250 and above. Records show that he was in custody on an ICE hold following his arrest in February for an unrelated aggravated assault charge.

Mejia's neighbor, Alejandra Moncada, said he attacked her with a screwdriver in February after he accused her daughter of breaking his car windows

One of Mejia’s neighbors, Alejandra Moncada, recounted a separate violent incident, stating that he attacked her with a screwdriver at the apartment complex. Speaking through a translator, Moncada explained that Mejia mistakenly believed she was involved in damaging his car windows.

“I was sitting down, and he came out with a screwdriver and was assaulting me. We had to call the cops, and when they arrived, he was still on a rampage,” Moncada stated. She emphasized that his claims were false, as her children were too young to have been responsible for the damage.

A Texas woman is pressing charges against Mejia after she said he pulled out her tooth with pliers and left her with a damaged jaw

In recent months, the American Dental Association has increased warnings about the dangers of receiving dental treatment from unlicensed individuals. According to the association, improper dental procedures can lead to severe pain, nerve damage, and tooth loss, and performing dentistry without a license is illegal.

Law enforcement officials filed charges against Mejia on Monday. As of Wednesday afternoon, he remained in the Harris County Jail on a $90,000 bond.