‘Veneer Techs’ on TikTok Raise Alarm About Unlicensed Dentistry

Social Media Fueling Dangerous Rise of Unqualified Cosmetic Dentistry Providers

USA: A troubling phenomenon of self-styled “veneer technicians” promoting cut-rate smile makeovers on TikTok and Instagram has the dental community sounding the alarm. These unlicensed individuals, operating outside the bounds of proper training and credentialing, are cashing in on society’s obsession with perfect “Hollywood smiles” by offering veneer services at prices that vastly undercut legitimate dental professionals.

According to an exposé published on highsnobiety.com by writer Alexandra Pauly, the owners of these social media accounts are boldly touting themselves as “veneer techs” or “veneer specialists” – titles that suggest expertise they simply do not possess. Even more disconcerting, Pauly reveals that some are hosting “veneer training” courses that last a mere two days before bestowing attendees with official-looking but ultimately meaningless certificates.

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“These Are Not Dentists”

“These are individuals who are not dentists and have no formal education,” warns Dr. Joyce Kahng, a doctor of dental surgery and owner of Orange and Magnolia Dental Studio, quoted in Pauly’s article. “They take a two-day certification course, which doesn’t mean anything. There is no such thing as a certification for ‘veneer tech.'”

Dr. Lilya Horowitz, founder of Domino Dental, further underscores the rigorous education and licensing required to legally practice any form of dentistry involving invasive procedures like veneers.

“To place veneers of any kind you must be licensed to practice dentistry in your state,” she explains in the Highsnobiety piece. “To obtain this license you must complete a four-year undergraduate program, as well as a three- or four-year accredited dental school program, which gives you a DDS or a DMD [Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry] degree.”

Grave Health Risks from Unlicensed Dentistry

Beyond the credentialing issues, dental experts warn that these rogue “veneer techs” are putting patients at severe risk of oral health complications and even life-threatening conditions.

“The biggest issues we have with these veneer techs is that many times, they bond straight on top of decay,” states Dr. Kahng in the article. This disturbing claim is corroborated by Dr. Horowitz, who cautions that, “Covering up active decay and bacteria in your teeth with veneers can result in a life-threatening infection.”

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Even for licensed dentists who have undergone the full gamut of professional training, developing true mastery of cosmetic dentistry procedures like veneers requires years of additional practical experience after graduation, according to Dr. Horowitz.

“It’s like any other profession — you can go to school and get a license to practice law, build houses, cut hair or perform plastic surgery, but how good will you be right after graduation?” she remarks in Pauly’s reporting.

Experts’ Advice for Prospective Veneer Patients

For those considering getting veneers from a qualified provider, several dental professionals interviewed by Highsnobiety offered guidance on spotting potential red flags:

• Be wary if a provider rushes you into the treatment or tries to accept payment without an initial in-person evaluation, advises Dr. Horowitz. “We will always do a cosmetic mockup to make sure the patient understands what we can do for them and agrees to move forward.”
• Request to see the dentist’s before-and-after photos from their own practice. “Make sure they’re not stock photos or taken from another dental practice,” cautions Dr. Lana Rozenberg of Rozenberg Dental NYC.
• Heed this stark warning from Dr. Lauren Becker: “Do not ever have medical work done by a non-medical professional.”

As videos showcasing stunning veneer transformations continue driving major engagement on TikTok and other platforms, industry authorities emphasize the risks simply aren’t worth the perceived cost-savings of entrusting one’s smile to unqualified, unlicensed “veneer techs” operating in a regulatory gray area.