A woman in Norfolk, Va., was convicted of practicing dentistry without a license, according to a Dec. 23 report by KGET 17.
Essense Martin, 33, was found guilty of practicing unlicensed dentistry and sentenced to five days in jail.
Ms. Martin is a certified dental assistant. Her business, Essential Grillz, is permitted to offer grills and tooth jewelry, but she herself is not certified to perform composite veneer procedures.
In 2022, the Virginia Department of Health Professions received complaints about Essential Grillz. The Virginia State Police launched a criminal investigation after concerns from the state's department of health professions.
Investigators found videos of Ms. Martin performing veneer procedures on her Facebook page, and interviews with former clients further confirmed the department's concerns. The investigation also found that Ms. Martin possessed chemicals and tools commonly used during invasive dental work.
In January 2024, Ms. Martin agreed to plead guilty to practicing a profession without a valid license. The judge initially deferred a ruling, giving Ms. Martin the opportunity to show progress and reform.
During a hearing in July, Ms. Martin claimed that she had enrolled in dentistry courses at a local college, which delayed her sentencing further.
In August, a former client reported that Ms. Martin was still offering veneer services.
At a Dec. 16 hearing, Ms. Martin did not present any evidence that she was actively enrolled in or had completed any college courses.
In addition to the jail sentence, Ms. Martin was ordered to serve five months and 25 days of suspended time and 12 months of supervised probation, the report said.