Woman Pretended To Be A Dental Hygienist For Years — By Stealing Actual Workers' Identifies, Prosecutors Said

A woman who pretended to be a dental hygienist for years now face felony charges, officials said.

Last week, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office announced the arrest of Elizabeth “Mina” Larijani, 50.

Investigators said she had pretended to be a licensed dental hygienist in Santa Clara County, California, for years. She tried to work at more than 10 dental offices in the area between 2015 and 2020.

She was arrested in Arizona, where she was also working as a dental hygienist, officials said.

Larijani mispresented herself as a registered dental hygienist often by using stolen identities of actual hygienists, according to prosecutors.

When dentists questioned her about her qualifications, she would move on to another office. A registered hygienist has to complete both written and clinical examinations, according to prosecutors.

“The last thing someone needs to be worrying about is whether the person cleaning their teeth, or using anesthetics, is licensed to do that work," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. "We are grateful to the Dental Board investigators who brought these violations to our attention, and to the law enforcement agencies in Arizona who assisted us in locating the defendant.”

Investigators say any possible victims who were harmed by Larijani should contact (408) 792-2567.