Manhattan Man Charged With Practicing Dentistry Without a License in Roslyn

Diba performed root canals on two patients despite not being a licensed dentist in New York State

MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that a Manhattan man has been charged with two felonies after performing two root canals on patients, despite not being a licensed dentist in New York.

Paul Diba, 41, has been charged with two counts of Unauthorized Practice, a class E felony, and two misdemeanor counts of Unauthorized Use of a Professional Title. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted. He is due back in court April 8.

Rice said that from June 1, 2007 until his arrest this morning, Diba has held himself out to the public and practiced as an endodontist, a dentist that performs root canals, despite the fact that he is not now, or has ever been, licensed as a dentist in New York. On at least two occasions, Diba performed root canals on two patients at his Roslyn office.

Rice said that Diba purchased an existing dental practice and began practicing in June 2007. In March 2008, a patient who had been referred to Diba by her regular dentist complained that Diba had to drill her teeth three times before finding the correct tooth. Rice said that prescriptions written by Diba were written on a pad bearing the name of his wife, a practicing dentist in Manhattan.

“Mr. Diba is a con artist playing a very dangerous game with people’s health,” Rice said. “It is imperative that people do their research when choosing a doctor or dentist to ensure that they receive safe and proper care.”

The New York State Department of Education and the National Insurance Crime Bureau assisted in the investigation.

Handling the case for the District Attorney's Office is Deputy Chief William Wallace of the Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau. The defendant is represented by Robert Gruba, Esq.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.