Officials: Fake Dentist Busted On The Main Line

By Jericka Duncan

BRYN MAWR, Pa. (CBS) - Forty-five-year-old Cheryl Laing and 24-year-old Jessica Gullickson left district court in Bryn Mawr Tuesday evening in a hurry.

Prosecutors say the two lied about their job titles while working at Smilz 4 Life, a dentist office in Bryn Mawr. The two lived on the second floor of the building where they worked.

According to the criminal complaint, Laing, a state registered dental assistant, said she was a dentist. Authorities say Laing removed teeth and performed root canals and crowns on at least three people.

Gullikson acted as Laing's assistant, according to the complaint.

The family that blew the whistle on the two testified at a preliminary hearing. They say they were required to pay in cash and all visits happened during the evening, when the office was supposed to be closed.

In the criminal complaint, investigators obtained computer logs for the X-ray machines. The logs indicate hundreds of X-rays were taken outside of regular business hours since January of 2011.

Defense attorneys for the two suspects maintain there's more to this story, that they will reveal at trial.

Laing and Gullickson were fired in September. Prosecutors say the actual dentist who runs Smilz 4 Life had no idea what was going on.

The office is still in business and according to at least one worker there, it's thriving.

The next court appearance will be a formal arraignment on Feb 27th.