MIAMI -- The state attorney general's office said a 48-year-old Miami-Dade County man was posing as a dentist and extracted some teeth without using anesthesia.

Orlando Sotolongo Guarton is accused of taking the name of a licensed dentist for the past year and submitting fraudulent Medicaid claims for the services he allegedly performed.

According to authorities, Guarton had been treating patients under the name of Dr. Lorenzo Punetes, providing invasive dental services and issuing prescriptions for antibiotics and painkillers.

Among the dental services Guarton allegedly performed were pulling teeth, sometimes done without administering anesthesia. He also allegedly submitted Medicaid claims for the dental services performed, defrauding the Medicaid program out of more than $1,600.

Authorities said at least two Medicaid patients identified Guarton from a photo lineup as the person who allegedly treated them using Puentes' name.

"This quack put patients' health at risk and stole from the taxpayers," Attorney General Charlie Crist said. "We cannot and will not sit back and allow someone to play dentist and disregard the well-being of unsuspecting victims."

The investigation into Guarton's activities was initiated by information received from the Florida Department of Health. A search warrant was executed Monday at Puentes Dental Services, where Guarton allegedly worked.

The level of Puentes' potential involvement is still under investigation.

Guarton is charged with five counts of practicing dentistry without a license and one count of Medicaid fraud, both third-degree felonies. If convicted on all charges, Guarton could face as much as 30 years in prison and $30,000 in fines.