2 Cobb women accused of running unlicensed dental practice for 9 years

Cobb police opened an investigation into the practice in January after a woman, identified in an arrest warrant as Lina Banciu, said she received a botched root canal there.

Banciu’s husband, Ruben Banciu, told Channel 2 Action News his wife was recommended to Morales through word of mouth. The woman wanted to save money and agreed to undergo the procedure when Morales told her it would only cost $500, the news station reported.

However, Banciu was in pain for days after the procedure. According to her husband, she drove back to the practice and demanded a refund. When she got there, another patient there was in tears with a swollen face, Banciu told Channel 2.

An arrest warrant obtained by AJC.com accuses Morales of doing Banciu’s root canal improperly and causing irreparable damage to the woman’s tooth.

Investigators found records that indicate the unlicensed practice dated back as far as 2010, Melton said. Police found numerous victims.

Both Zambrano-Blanco and Morales are charged with practicing dentistry without a license. Morales faces an additional charge of aggravated battery.

Morales was booked into the Cobb County jail, where she is being held on a $25,000 bond, records show. Zambrano-Blanco was also booked into the Cobb jail, where she is being held on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.

Anyone who received dentistry work from either woman or has information about this investigation is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit at 770-499-3945.

Dental licenses are regulated by the Georgia Board of Dentistry. Georgians can verify if a dentist is licensed by visiting the board's website at gbd.georgia.gov.

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