A MAN has appeared in court charged with unlawfully practising dentistry in Usk.

Martyn Collier, of Rochester Road, Newport, was found guilty last Monday, (1st June) at Cwmbran Magistrate's Court of unlawfully practising dentistry, namely tooth whitening, contrary to Section 38 (1) and (2) of the Dentists Act 1984.

He was prosecuted by the General Dental Council (GDC) in their first prosecution of an illegal tooth whitening training provider.

Collier, 34, is the sole director of "Smile Like the Stars Training Limited," a company that runs training courses on how to whiten teeth.

Tooth whitening is a practice of dentistry. Legally, it can only be carried out by individuals who are regulated by the GDC, specifically dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, or clinical dental technicians working to a dentist's prescription.

Collier, who has never been registered with the GDC, 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.

Both of Collier's offences took place on 3rd March 2014 at the Best Western Hotel, Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel and Spa, Llangybi, near Usk.

Collier's offences took place in a conference suite he had rented out; at no time was he employed by the hotel.

Complainants in the case booked their training at a cost of £1,495 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 sentenced to a three year conditional discharge. He was ordered to pay compensation of £1,495 to his victims, a £15 victim surcharge and costs to the GDC of £3,500.

Patients can check their dental professional is registered by logging on to the GDC's website: http://www.gdc-uk.org">www.gdc-uk.org.