A Hartlepool businessman has pleaded guilty to the charge of carrying out tooth whitening illegally; Graeme Pattinson is being prosecuted for providing teeth whitening out of Ultimate Tanning and Beauty Salon in Hartlepool without being a registered dental practitioner.
According to The Northern Echo, Pattinson admitted unlawfully practising dentistry in June last year and the General Dental Council (GDC) went ahead with the prosecution for providing a so-called ‘self-administered’ tooth whitening system. Mr Pattinson also pleaded guilty to a second offence of carrying out dentistry unlawfully.
The GDC released a statement saying that the practice of providing patients with a tooth whitening tray and other bleaching products would constitute ‘advice and attendance’ offered by a dentist which would ‘therefore be illegal.’
The businessman was never registered with the GDC, which is necessary to provide teeth whitening legally, and he received a two year conditional discharge for the illegal practice. He was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £1,000 towards the GDC’s costs.