Milton Keynes resident, Lydia Ferguson, has pleaded guilty to offering illegal tooth whitening and has been ordered to pay almost £600 by Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court.
After receiving a complaint in mid-2017 that Optima White was illegally offering tooth whitening, the General Dental Council (GDC) launched an investigation. There is a long history of Optima White illegally offering tooth whitening, with three people having been previously convicted and fined and numerous warning letters having been sent. The investigation produced evidence that Ms Ferguson, working with Optima White, unlawfully held herself out as being prepared to practise dentistry in the form of tooth whitening.
Under the Dentists Act 1984, and following the High Court’s ruling in GDC v Jamous, the legal position in relation to tooth whitening is very clear. The treatment can only be performed by a dentist or a dental therapist, dental hygienist or clinical dental technician working to the prescription of a dentist.
Francesca Keen, Head of Illegal Practice at the General Dental Council, said, “Our primary purpose at the GDC is to protect the public from harm. Illegal tooth whitening represents a real risk as those who carry it out are neither qualified to assess a patient’s suitability for the treatment, nor are they able to intervene should an emergency arise. The GDC takes reports of the illegal practise of dentistry very seriously and, where appropriate, will prosecute in the criminal courts.”
Anyone considering tooth whitening should first check the register of dental professionals on the GDC’s website to ensure the individual offering the treatment is qualified to do so. If you suspect illegal tooth whitening is being offered, you can report it via the GDC’s website.
