The importance of seeking out a qualified professional to carry out cosmetic dentistry has been highlighted by a case in Melbourne.
According to the Age, Australian dentist Dr Ari Masters was prosecuted after he tried to treat a gap in a patient's teeth using elastic bands.
Instead of providing invisible braces or other orthodontic equipment, the dentist caused "serious dental damage" by using the simplistic bands, a tribunal heard.
The child may suffer "lifelong consequences" as a result of Dr Masters' actions, which demonstrated a lack of sufficient knowledge of oral healthcare.
It was also found that claims in his advertisements were misleading, as they insisted the elastic bands were better than ordinary braces.
Dr Masters was fined and prosecuted by the Dental Practice Board as a result.
Last month, Dr Deepika Reddy from the East Syracuse Family Dental Arts in New York was also fined and prosecuted after causing patients serious harm and suffering including broken jaws.
