The state is cracking down on a dangerous trend of unlicensed dentistry in attempts to save people from wasting their money and damaging their teeth. The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners says it is seeing more complaints about so-called “veneer technicians.” Andrea Joseph paid for a course she thought would certify her to become a veneer technician but it turns out, that’s not even a real job. “It says certificate of completion, that really doesn’t mean anything,” Joseph said. Joseph spent $2,500 on an eight hour class in Atlanta learn to be a veneer technician. Less than six months into her new investment, things took a turn. “Nope. I’m good. I don’t want no parts,” Joseph said. “You don’t have to worry about me doing any veneers any longer.” A sheriff’s deputy served her with an order from the board of dental examiners telling her to stop unlicensed dentistry. Bobby White is the CEO of the NC Board of Dental Examiners. “We’re not like a police department out there patrolling, looking for problems,” White said. “We kind of wait for them to come to us, but we’ve seen an uptick in the number of complaints that have been coming to us in this area.” White says the board has filed least a dozen injunctions against people accused of practicing without a license in the last year and a half. “We didn’t used to have a lot of unlicensed or unauthorized practice of dentistry complaints, but we have seen those go up in the past 18 months or so,” White said. “We bring these actions not because we have any ax to grind, but because our duty is to protect the public.” White says the board does not issue fines, instead it orders the plaintiff to stop practicing. “This is all we want,” White said. “If you’ll stop doing this, then this this whole thing, this legal process ends with your agreeing a consenting to to stop the practice.” White says Joseph’s situation is common. He says there are people who sell the idea of veneer techs as legal and profit from it, but unless they are operating in North Carolina the board does not have jurisdiction. “The folks that are doing this have been themselves sold a bill of goods,” White said. “Somebody has told them, you know, this is legal. You can buy the equipment from me. It’s fine in North Carolina.” Joseph is relived that she won’t face any fines. She already lost thousands of dollars for the cost of the class and equipment. On top of that, her own veneers are causing health problems. “Even though my smile looks very nice, I have gum bleeding. I’m still currently losing veneers,” Joseph said. “I have to go get these fixed like I’m currently like going through that really bad right now.” The board of dental examiners says there have also been reports of unlicensed dentists installing braces. The board recommends people who can’t afford dental work go to a dental school to get discounted work at a clinic where it’s safer and more affordable.