Police raided the Northeast Atlanta offices of A List Smiles Atlanta after seeing a viral TikTok.
denture model and dentist’s tools are displayed
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An Atlanta-based “veneer specialist” is facing serious charges after being raided by police. On Thursday (Oct. 3), the A List Smiles business operated by Brandon Dillard w as swarmed by District attorney investigators and Atlanta police. According to WSB-TV 2 Atlanta, the investigation was sparked by a viral TikTok.
“Brandon Dillard is not a dentist. He’s never been a dentist. And as much as he may want to play one on Instagram, he is not one,” exclaimed Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Will Wooten. He added, “It does look reputable. It does look professional. And that’s part of the scam.”
Dillard is being charged with eight felonies including practicing dentistry without a license, practicing medicine without a license, and theft by deception. He is not only accused of illegally practicing dentistry himself but also allegedly holding trainings for people to become “veneer specialists,” charging more than $6,000. However, in Georgia, there no such thing legally as a veneer specialist or veneer technician.
“Many, many people paid this defendant to receive training on how to do this illegal conduct. I am not interested in prosecuting those persons. I am interested in them stopping this work and finding out who they are because they are also victims,” explained Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
She added, “They were enticing people to come in to take these classes so that you could get rich, too. But you were getting rich doing something that’s completely illegal.”
The Instagram account for A List Smiles Atlanta boasts over 150,000 followers and features an advertisement from personality Tia Kemp for its cleaning system.
Whitney White, a dentist at Aspen Dental in Nevada, explained to Forbes, “[Veneer techs’] work can lead to severe consequences such as tooth damage, infections, and even hospitalization,” adding, “It’s crucial that people seeking veneers prioritize their own safety by ensuring that they receive treatment from qualified and licensed dental professionals.”
The report detailed critical differences, such as veneer techs using nail supplies like acrylic for their procedures, and equipment from unverified sites such as Amazon or Temu.
Investigators are asking the patients, trainees, and other potential victims to contact the Fulton County District Attorney’s office by email at Fcda.fraudtips@fultoncountyga.gov.