Unlicensed dentist indicted for years of illegal practice, making over $400,000

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) - An unlicensed dentist in Ohio has been indicted for practicing without a license while making hundreds of thousands of dollars.

According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Jazemen Lyons, 37, owned and operated The Smile Lounge in Shaker Heights from 2022 to 2025.

Lyons is accussed of engaging in the unlicensed practice of dentistry and orthodontics during that time. Authorities said her illegal practice also earned her more than $400,000.

Lyons charges include telecommunications fraud, money laundering and possessing criminal tools.

“We’ve never had a case like this before,” Lexi Bauer, with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, said.

Last year, a former patient of Lyons shared her story about having her teeth cracked and damaged after she reportedly paid thousands of dollars to improve them.

Nylah Martin said she had paid more than $3,000 to get composite veneers at The Smile Lounge. However, days after the procedure, she knew something wasn’t right.

“I was having breakage and having them fall off,” she said.

According to Martin, she had to go back several times to get the damage fixed, but the procedure became more painful, and she was still left with at least one cracked tooth.

“She was like drilling through my teeth ... I don’t want to smile anymore. It is very embarrassing,” Martin shared at that time

Lyons is scheduled to be arraigned in court on May 18.