Following a troubling social media trend, dental health professionals are warning against unlicensed “veneer techs” appearing on social media platforms.
Roughly 1 in 5 American adults turn to TikTok before their doctor when seeking health advice, according to research by prescription company CharityRx. Do-it-yourself (DIY) dentistry has amassed millions of views across social media as users search for at-home hacks and quick fixes to improve the appearance of their pearly whites.
One of those quick fixes involves dental veneers, custom-made, thin coverings applied to the front of one’s teeth to conceal imperfections like chips or discoloration, as unlicensed individuals are seen advertising low-cost veneer services on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
These self-described “veneer techs” promise perfect teeth at a fraction of the cost charged by licensed dentists, but the danger may outweigh the savings as the American Dental Association (ADA) has recently been ramping up warnings about the dangers of veneers performed by unlicensed individuals.
“Quality control is lost without the involvement of a licensed dentist,” Dr. Ada Cooper, a New York-based dentist and ADA spokesperson said, per the Associated Press. “We undergo years of education and training and need to be licensed by various regulatory bodies before we can practice.”
Newsweek has reached out to the ADA via email for comment.
Unlike crowns or implants, veneers are cosmetic and generally aren’t covered by insurance. Licensed dentists typically charge between $1,000 and $2,000 per tooth, depending on the material used. But the procedure is irreversible as dentists must strip some enamel off the teeth before bonding veneers, and they usually last only five to 15 years.
If improperly performed, veneer procedures can lead to severe consequences, including nerve damage, infections, and even tooth loss.
According to Dr. Zach Truman, an orthodontist in Las Vegas who also spoke to the AP, unlicensed practitioners often skip critical steps like administering anesthesia correctly, leaving patients in agony. There’s also the risk of the veneer being placed over untreated dental issues like cavities, which can worsen under the veneer and lead to tooth loss.
“If you put a veneer on a tooth that has an active cavity, you’re just going to seal it in there and eventually it’s going to progress to tooth loss,” Truman said.
The warning comes as authorities in Georgia on Thursday arrested Brandon Diller, who had gained over 150,000 Instagram followers by promoting himself as “Atlanta’s top veneer specialist and trainer.”
According to an arrest warrant from the Fulton County’s district attorney’s office, Diller practiced dentistry without a license and sold “training and certificates, which were worthless” and “provided no legitimate or legal credentials.”
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