Landmark prosecution of illegal tooth whitening training provider

tooth whiteningThe General Dental Council (GDC) has secured its first prosecution of an illegal tooth whitening training provider.

Martyn Collier, director of Smile Like the Stars Training Limited, was found guilty of two offences of unlawfully practising dentistry, namely tooth whitening, on 26 January 2015.

Mr Collier was found guilty in his absence at Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court.

Tooth whitening is the practice of dentistry.

Legally, it can only be carried out by individuals who are regulated with the GDC, including dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, or clinical dental technicians working to a dentist’s prescription.

Mr Collier has never been registered with the GDC and was found guilty of unlawfully practising dentistry in relation to tooth whitening he performed on two individuals, whilst he purported to train them as tooth whiteners.

The training that Mr Collier purported to provide would not legally enable his trainees to practise tooth whitening.

The complainants booked the training at a cost of £1,595 with Smile Like the Stars Training Limited through Mr Collier’s website, The Teeth Whitening Training School.

The complainants were falsely told that the training would result in a qualification that would legally allow them to provide tooth whitening treatments.

This was incorrect as the complainants were not registered dental professionals.

Mr Collier provided the complainants with false and misleading documents about the legality of tooth whitening and methods to avoid prosecution.

Mr Collier was fined £4,000 for each of the two offences, ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge and £1,595 in compensation.

He was also ordered to pay full costs to the GDC of £1,776.88.

In total, Mr Collier was ordered to pay £11,491.88.

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