Whitening case to be reopened
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- Published: Monday, 27 January 2014 07:36
- Written by News Editor
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The case of beautician, Hayley Wilding, which was reported on GDPUK, is to be reopened. On 20 December 2013 she was found guilty of unlawfully practising dentistry, by tooth whitening, at Lancaster Magistrates’ Court. However, she now claims that she had been unaware of the General Dental Council (GDC) prosecution and not received any letters from the court.
Hayley Wilding was told to pay out nearly £3,500 after she was prosecuted for illegally whitening teeth. She failed to attend a hearing at Lancaster Magistrates’ Court in December. She was proved guilty in her absence of unlawfully practising dentistry and carrying on the business of dentistry during her time working at Vanity Salon in Ullswater Road, Lancaster, last year.
However, she said she had been unaware of the General Dental Council (GDC) prosecution, as she had moved home in November and not received any letters from the court. The beautician said she completed what she was led to believe was a legally certified tooth whitening training course, and had only found out about the court case and fines in the press. The outcome of the first hearing will now be suspended until a second hearing can take place.
She told a local paper: “I’ve been in to sign a document at the court saying I didn’t know anything about it and they have put it on hold. It’s now in the hands of the courts. I’ve been doing teeth whitening since last February, after I did a three-day course with a company down in Cardiff. It cost £400. When this came out they reassured me as long as I use non-peroxide products it’s perfectly legal. It’s so confusing. I just feel stupid and embarrassed and I feel like a criminal. If it’s the case that it’s illegal then they have just taken my money.”
The GDC said attending a tooth whitening training course does not in itself allow an individual to provide tooth whitening legally and that the type of peroxide used is irrelevant. A GDC spokesman said: “If you want to carry out tooth whitening, either by yourself or as a business, you must qualify as dentist, dental therapist or a dental hygienist.”
Another successful prosecution
In a different case the GDC has successfully prosecuted a non-registrant for unlawfully practising dentistry, namely tooth whitening. On 17 January 2014 Jason Edworthy pleaded guilty at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court to unlawfully practising dentistry, namely tooth whitening and to unlawfully holding himself out as practising, or being prepared to practise dentistry, namely tooth whitening.
The charges relate to incidents at ‘Beta Clinic’ 67 Marlowes Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1LE and ‘Movers and Shakers’, 15 Church Road, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AR respectively. Mr Edworthy was fined £250, ordered to pay a £25 victim surcharge and full costs to the GDC of £897.82.
In reaching their decision the Magistrates said: "We have listened to what you and the GDC have had to say. In making our decision we note that you have never been registered as a Dentist however we also note that since 1 August 2013, when you realised that tooth whitening was illegal, you have not provided any further tooth whitening treatment."
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