Woman charged with impersonating a dental assistant

A woman in Pennsylvania who reportedly falsely claimed to hold an expanded function dental assistant license and worked briefly for three dentists has been arrested, according to a story published on April 7 in the Bucks County Courier Times. 

Rose Calese Horne, 43, of Middletown, PA, was charged with multiple felony counts of prohibited use of radiation source and misdemeanor charges or falsely claiming to hold a professional occupation license. Horne, who is on probation for similar charges in Philadelphia, was sent to county jail on April 5 pending bail or her next court date and was barred from working at any dental practice until her case was finalized, according to the story.

In November 2023, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General began investigating Horne after it received a tip that she was performing dental assistant duties, including taking dental x-rays, without licensing and certifications. The Dental Assisting National Board and the state dental board had no records confirming that she was a licensed dental assistant or certified to use dental x-ray equipment.

In 2023, Horne worked very briefly at three different practices until she was fired. For four days, Horne purportedly worked at Levittown Dental Associates in Levittown, PA, where she assisted with about two dozen patients. However, she did not perform any expanded function duties because she failed to provide proof of her certifications. When the certifications couldn't be verified, she was terminated.

Horne was hired as a dental assistant with an expanded function license for a 30-day trial at Bucks County Periodontics in Bensalem, PA. Her resume showed that she had proper licensing and credentials, but the practice never received verification of them.

While working there for three weeks, she reportedly assisted with 17 surgeries and performed multiple x-rays. The dentist at the practice told investigators that she was terminated for being excessively late and spending too much time on her phone, according to the story.

Additionally, Horne reportedly worked at Langhorne Family Smiles in Middletown, PA, for 20 days. The dentist and practice owner told investigators that Horne showed him a copy of her x-ray certification, but he did not get a copy of it. She was fired for complaining about the dental assisting work and failing to be a good team player, according to the story.