Aurora woman charged with doing dental work without license

An Aurora woman has been charged with doing dental work without a license, according to North Aurora police.

Silvia Hernandez, 37, of the 400 block of Iowa Street, is charged with unlawful practice of dentistry and deceptive practices, both Class A misdemeanors, and theft, a Class 3 felony, according to Deputy Chief Scott Buziecki.

Police are making arrangements with Hernandez to turn herself in. Bail has been set at $35,000; she will need to post $3,500 to be released.

A Kane County grand jury indicted her Friday, Buziecki said.

According to Buziecki Hernandez was working as a dental hygienist at North Aurora Dental Associates, 100 N. Lincolnway (Route 31).

A woman came in to the office in July complaining of a problem with braces that she had received. Office workers could not find a record of the patient, who then told them “Dr. Silvia” had done the work, and pointed to Hernandez in a staff photograph, Buziecki said. The dental office then notified the police. A second complaint was filed in September.

Hernandez is accused of doing dental work at the office on nights and weekends when it was normally closed. Police believe she did so from 2008 through June 2011.

“We believe there are others,” Buziecki said. The two victims are Hispanic, and Buziecki suspects other patients may also be Hispanic, including undocumented workers scared to come forward because of their immigration status. Victims may also be people who could not afford to see a licensed dentist, he said.

“We would love to talk to them,” he said, saying police are not concerned about immigration status. “They also need to see a dentist,” to see if the work was done properly.