Newcastle woman pleads guilty to illegal tooth whitening offences

03 February 2017
Volume 31 · Issue 6

The General Dental Council (GDC) has successfully prosecuted a woman from Newcastle for carrying out tooth whitening illegally which caused harm to a customer.

Madison Crabb, of Chester Pike, Newcastle, was sentenced to a total fine of £1,000 (£500 for each offence) and was ordered to pay a £50 victim surcharge, £200 compensation and £1,628.70 in costs to the GDC – a total of £2878.70, before Newcastle Magistrates Court on January 27, 2017. Madison Crabb did not attend court but pleaded guilty by post to two offences relating to illegal tooth whitening.

The GDC opened an investigation into Ms Crabb after being made aware that a customer had been left with burnt, swollen and bleeding gums following tooth whitening treatment by the defendant at her home address. During the investigation, it transpired that Ms Crabb had previously been sent warning letters in 2014 and 2015, setting out the legalities in relation to tooth whitening and advising that the work she was providing was illegal.

Passing sentence, the magistrate commented, “The aggravating features are clear, she caused harm [to a customer] and deliberately ignored previous warning letters from the GDC.”

Victoria Shepherd-Jones, interim head of illegal practice at the GDC, said: “Another successful prosecution shows how seriously both the GDC and the magistrates’ courts take the illegal practice of dentistry. We hope that Ms Crabb’s sentence will act as a warning to individuals who continue to carry out illegal tooth whitening.

“If you have tooth whitening by an individual not on the register, it could result in significant, long term damage to your teeth. We strongly advise anyone considering dental treatment to check the individual is on the GDC register.”