SMYRNA — A Marietta man is free on bond after being charged with identity fraud and the unlawful practice of dentistry without a license, both felonies.

Howard Manders, 64, is a dental-lab technician, not a dentist, though he apparently helped found Manders Dental Center, at 2220 Atlanta Road, Suite 103, in Smyrna.

According to his arrest warrant, Manders was seen by different witnesses installing dentures and partials on patients on multiple occasions.

Manders is also charged with two counts of felony identity fraud.

According to his arrest warrant, Manders used dental-license numbers of two dentists to obtain an “NPI number,” which is issued to health care providers by HIPPA. The warrant does not say what Manders used the numbers for.

The office manager who answered the telephone at Manders’ clinic on Monday afternoon said that he was not practicing dentistry, and that the clinic is overseen by Samuel Collins, who is a licensed dentist.

“He only makes false teeth,” she said of Manders. She referred further questions to attorney Mark Spix.

“It doesn’t make any sense to us,” Spix said. “This company’s been in business 40 years and they provide a service. Near as I can tell, there are lots of dental offices that use labs that aren’t owned by dentists.”

Spix said he had not yet seen a letter the Secretary of State’s office previously sent Manders ordering him to cease and desist from practicing dentistry, “which we don’t think he’s doing.”

“I’m trying to sort through it and find the impermissible actions occurred,” Spix said.

In February, Manders signed a voluntary cease and desist order with the state board of dentistry in which he agreed to cease and desist from any act or practice that requires licensure under Title 43, Chapter 11.

Manders was booked into Cobb Jail on the charges Friday afternoon, and released shortly thereafter after posting property for his $10,000 bond.

If convicted of practicing dentistry without a license, Manders could be fined up to $1,000 and imprisoned up to five years.