It seems like worse advice is being released online every day. Misinformation is everywhere, so often masquerading as legitimate health advice, the perfect weight loss answer, or the simple hack that will change your life. But when it comes to the insidious scam run by “Veneer Techs”, things are much worse. We’re talking about illegal, unlicensed dentistry performed by unqualified people cashing in on a Canva certificate and a short online course.
Ahead, experts explain exactly why this scam is so dangerous.
Featured experts
- Joseph Field, DDS is a cosmetic dentist practicing in Los Altos, CA
- Victoria Veytsman, DDS is a cosmetic dentist practicing in New York and Los Angeles
There is no such job as “Veneer Tech”
“This is not a job, there is no license or certification for technical veneers,” says Los Altos cosmetic dentist Joseph Field, DDS. “I’m very overwhelmed by it,” says cosmetic dentist Victoria Veytsman, DDS of New York and Los Angeles. “There is no time when anyone other than a licensed dentist should be performing dental work. It’s 100 percent illegal.”
According to his report Forbes, at least one arrest has already been made in connection with this scam. “A woman from Las Vegas who ran an illegal company called Veneer Experts was charged with a felony charge of illegally practicing dentistry earlier this year after a patient’s teeth fell out and the patient filed a complaint with the state,” they explain.
Because veneers take years to master
You can’t learn to install veneer in a few hours of online classes. “It takes years to really learn this process,” says Dr. Veytsman. “Veneers are very technique sensitive and the glue we use is a cement that is permanent, it can cause serious damage if applied incorrectly. It takes years of practice and years of continued education to make smile changes. It is an irreversible, permanent procedure that must be performed by a licensed and trained dentist.”
A “veneer tech” does not have access to the hand-crafted, custom veneers that dentists and dental professionals create. A “veneer technology” has access to kits from Amazon and Temu, according to reports from Forbes. “A real veneer is handcrafted for your mouth,” says Dr. “And placing them is something that takes years to learn—if you’ve heard of the 10,000-hour rule, it absolutely applies here.”
“There are so many steps in this process,” explains Dr. Veytsman. “I use magnifying glasses to see 3-4 times closer so I can work out those little details that can make or break a smile. You have to think about how this can affect not only the health of the teeth, but also the health of the gums.”
Why are veneers so expensive?
It is important to recognize how “vanilla technologies” attract victims. A primary part of the playing field is that it comes much cheaper than real veneers from a real dentist. So, let’s talk about the cost of veneers.
The cost of a single veneer on a single tooth varies by country and ranges from $900-$2,500. “That price includes the hand-made materials, the temporaries, the placement, the x-rays before we start placing anything, the years of experience we have, and the years we expect this veneer to last,” says Dr. “We expect these to last 15-20 years. it’s all part of the investment.”
The other part of the “technology veneer” scam claims to be some kind of expert with oversight or delegated authority – these are not humans tries to get dental basement. “One of the worst parts of this is that these ‘technical veneers’ position themselves as experts you can trust,” says Dr. “And what they’re touting to people as a genuine solution is like having Halloween teeth stuck in your mouth.”
“Veneer Techs” are dangerous
Unlicensed dentistry has serious consequences. “You’re putting your dental health at risk,” says Dr. Field. “The potential goes beyond just damaged teeth. There is a risk of gum damage, as well as these ‘veneer technologies’ that stick over infected teeth, which can seriously exacerbate these problems.”
“We don’t even know what materials these people are using,” says Dr. Veytsman. “Are they porcelain? Or is it an unstable plastic? Are the materials they work with really non-toxic? We have no way of knowing.”
Based on the recent arrest in Las Vegas, the possibility of lost teeth has already become a reality for some victims of this scam.
Keep yourself safe
There is no Council to oversee fake and illegal veneer techniques. But there is one for dentists.
Professional Dentists have years of experience, real license and the know-how to safely restore your smile. While the price tag associated with dental work can sometimes be hard to swallow, there are serious consequences to trying to take shortcuts.
“Even dentists will refer to other specialists if an issue is outside of our field,” says Dr. Veytsman. “It is vital to the health and safety of patients that licensed professionals perform what they are trained to do.”
