Illinois Warning Residents to Stop Going to Fake Dentists

Here are a couple of facts to consider. There are real dentists and there are fake dentists. The state of Illinois would appreciate it if you'd stop going to the fake ones.

As the descendent (albeit distant) from a very famous Wild West dentist, it's going to be hard to hold back my tendency to be snarky, but I'll try. The state of Illinois has an official Fake Dentist, Real Risk website and I'm not even making any of that up. They even made a fancy graphic to emphasize their point.

I had no idea there were people doing dental work that weren't...um...dentists. Even more so I had no idea there were people in Illinois willing to let people without professional training to operate inside of their mouth.

How can you tell if you're dealing with a fake dentist in Illinois?

1. If the alleged dentist doesn't operate in a professional office

2. If the alleged dentist doesn't show you an Illinois license even if you ask

3. Doesn't seem to know what they are doing and doesn't use proper dental tools

4. Looks a little like Steve Martin in the Little Shop of Horrors (Not from the state of Illinois - I added this one myself)

Two things are about to happen that I never thought would happen. 1. I am saying the phrase "please don't go to a fake dentist" and 2. I'm agreeing with the state of Illinois about something.