Breaking: Atlanta’s New Year’s Eve Peach Drop replaced by fireworks, drone display
Politics
Politics

How much did Gov. Deal know about his state dental board pick?

Gov. Nathan Deal, left, appointed Dale G. Mayfiled, right, a corporate executive of Marietta-based Kool Smiles, to Georgia’s Board of Dentistry in February 2016. (Reann Huber/Reann.Huber@ajc.com; Johnny Edwards/jredwards@ajc.com; Kool Smiles website)
Gov. Nathan Deal, left, appointed Dale G. Mayfiled, right, a corporate executive of Marietta-based Kool Smiles, to Georgia’s Board of Dentistry in February 2016. (Reann Huber/Reann.Huber@ajc.com; Johnny Edwards/jredwards@ajc.com; Kool Smiles website)
By John Edwards
Feb 12, 2018

Dale G. Mayfield, an executive for the Kool Smiles chain of dental clinics, filled out an application to be on Georgia's dental licensing board in February 2016. Three days later, Gov. Nathan Deal issued an order appointing him to the Georgia Board of Dentistry.

“Mayfield is the chief dental officer of Kool Smiles,” Deal’s news release said.

But if anyone had bothered to research the company at the time, they would have known Kool Smiles faced government scrutiny over its treatment of children. They would have found a bounty of web articles and TV news reports.

So what happened? That’s not something the governor seems interested in talking about.

Read more of the AJC's investigation at MyAJC.com.

About the Author

John Edwards
More Stories

Keep Reading

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Michael Thurmond spoke to the AJC's Tia Mitchell during a Politically Georgia forum at The Dogwood at Westside Paper in Atlanta on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Adam Beam/AJC)

Credit: Adam Beam/AJC

Why Michael Thurmond says he’s no insider

A one-on-one AJC interview with the Democratic candidate for governor.

Brad Raffensperger on passing the 2020 ‘test’

A one-on-one AJC interview with the Republican candidate for governor

Keisha Lance Bottoms on fighting ‘bully’ Trump

The Latest

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jason Esteves spoke to the AJC's Greg Bluestein during a Politically Georgia forum at The Dogwood at Westside Paper in Atlanta on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Adam Beam/AJC)

Credit: Adam Beam/AJC

Jason Esteves charts out post-Trump future

Keisha Lance Bottoms on fighting ‘bully’ Trump

Chris Carr says ‘lawfare has to end’

Featured

A migrant farmworker harvests Vidalia onions at a farm in Collins, in 2011. A coalition of farmworkers, including one based in Georgia, filed suit last month in federal court arguing that cuts to H-2A wages will trigger a cut in the pay and standard of living of U.S. agricultural workers. (Bita Honarvar/AJC)

Credit: Bita Honarvar

Trump administration slashes Georgia migrant farmworker H-2A wages

The state’s agriculture industry relies on the H-2A farmworker visa program. A federal lawsuit is challenging the change.

Brian Kemp’s lame-duck dilemma: Swing big or play it safe?

The two-term Georgia governor enters his last legislative session next month.

Fate of Confederate souvenir store in limbo amid legal battle over estate

The future of Wildman’s Civil War Surplus Store has long been a topic of debate in Kennesaw, especially since proprietor Dent Myers’ death nearly four years ago.