During the month, the GDC’s Illegal Practice team prosecuted five tooth whitening cases – including one for a serious repeat offender and two further cases of practicing dentistry without being on the register of dental professionals.
Prominent cases included:
- Jason Edworthy, of Kingsmead, Buckinghamshire, was ordered to pay a £2,000 fine, £120 victim surcharge and £1,280 in costs after pleading guilty to practicing dentistry whilst not on the register, by way of providing illegal teeth whitening treatment. These offences were committed despite having been prosecuted for the same offence in 2014 and being the subject of a BBC Inside Out West investigation in February 2016.
- Robert Webb, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire was fined £4,500 for three charges of unlawfully practicing dentistry despite not being on the register. These services were provided in a dusty, unsafe and unhygienic surgery with several live hedgehogs near the treatment room. Mr. Webb was also ordered to pay a £150 victim surcharge and £1,883.18 in costs.
Victoria Sheppard-Jones, interim head of illegal practice at the GDC said: “The level of successful prosecutions and fines this month shows that the courts take issues of illegal dentistry seriously.
“Whether this is carrying out tooth whitening without the proper training … or offering complex services without being on the register of dental professionals, when the evidential and public interest test is met the GDC will prosecute to protect the public.
“If anyone is considering dental treatment, such as tooth whitening, we encourage individuals to check our online register and ensure that anyone offering this service is registered, trained and qualified to do the work safely”