NC experts weigh in after warning issued on dangerous, unlicensed ‘veneer techs’
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Videos online of reported dental work by ‘veneer technicians’ have been enough to catch the attention of the American Dental Association.
This week, the organization issued a statement, urging the public to be cautious of these services.
“Unsupervised dental treatment from unlicensed individuals has the potential to cause damaging complications for patients, and any dental procedure that may alter the physical structure of an individual’s teeth, gums or jaws, without the supervision of a dentist, has the potential to cause irreversible harm,” the statement said.
The statement comes as dentists and those in the dental field in Charlotte note that this is more than just an urban legend or a social media rumor.
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Dental consultant Debra Engelhardt-Nash referred to the practice of ‘veneer technicians’ as ‘street dentistry,’ where those performing the procedures often work out of a home or other non-medical environment.
Engelhardt-Nash works with her husband at a practice that trains dentists on cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers and noted that over the last year, she had received several calls from people wanting to get trained on the procedures without having any license to practice.
Practicing dentistry without a license can also be a felony in North Carolina.
“This is not a false fingernail on a finger,” said Engelhardt-Nash, noting the differences between that practice, along with cosmetic features such as Botox. “We’re cutting away at tooth structure that won’t come back.”
Dentists noted the practice of cosmetic dentistry is more involved than just the dental work that is ultimately done, saying that the condition of the teeth and gums, and proper cleaning with the right materials before the procedure play a significant part in the longevity and viability of dental work.
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