Dental tech charged with operating without license
By BETH BURGER
bburger@bradenton.com
A 71-year-old dental technician was charged Wednesday with practicing a health care profession without a license.
Thomas N. Lorenzo, of the 4400 block of 56th Terrace East, was arrested after authorities received an anonymous tip he was running the Quality Dental Lab without a license, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
Lorenzo, who has been practicing in the area for several years, had a license but let it slip about four years ago, said sheriff's office spokesman Dave Bristow.
However, Eulinda Jackson, deputy press secretary for the Department of Health said there was no record of Lorenzo having a license.
The lab, Quality Dental Lab, 6328 14th St. W., showed a null and void license in 1995 as the last record, Jackson said. Dental labs are licensed annually through the Department of Health.
Lorenzo was arrested after he fixed broken dentures for a Department of Health investigator in a sting operation for $80.
The lab is supposed to get referrals from dentists before doing work, Bristow said.
Bristow said the work performed on the dentures was considered adequate. The sheriff's office had not received complaints about Lorenzo's work, he said.
As of Wednesday evening, Lorenzo was being held on $1,000 bond. He has his initial court appearance today.
The charge of running an unlicensed practice of health care profession is a third degree felony, Bristow said. The maximum penalty is no more than five years in prison.
On Wednesday evening, there were two cars parked outside the office in a dingy white building with block lettering. The blinds were down over several broken windows. A man who answered the door there declined to comment.
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