Smile makeover or risky business? Warning about unregulated dental tourism

Patients are being put at risk from the rise of “pop-up” dental tourism clinics that are appearing on our high streets and the brick-and-mortar establishments that are hosting ‘dental consultations’ and ‘smile makeovers’ events, according to the Northern Ireland branch of the British Dental Association (BDA NI).

The BDA NI is voicing its concerns to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, the dentists’ regulators, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) and the General Dental Council (GDC); it’s asking for support in tackling illegal dental practice, which open the floodgates to unscrupulous practices and puts the public at risk of dentistry that fails to align with UK standards.

Paul Brennan, Chair of the BDA NI, said, “Simply looking inside a patient’s mouth and examining their teeth and gums with the intention of offering dental treatment amounts to ‘the practice of dentistry’; this passes a line beyond simply the marketing of overseas dental services.

“It is unconscionable that the public in Northern Ireland is being put at risk in scenarios where the practice of dentistry may be happening locally, for instance at pop-up events in hotels, and is going unchecked, being carried out by individuals who are not GDC registered in premises which are also unregistered and unregulated by RQIA.

“This is in complete contrast with the overregulation of low-risk, highly reputable dental practices. We are also seeking assurances about what enforcement powers the GDC holds, and how these powers are being exercised where dentistry is being carried out illegally by non-GDC-registered individuals in Northern Ireland.

“We are looking to the Health Minister to intervene so far as these issues fall directly within his department’s remit, and to engage with the GDC and others to ensure an approach that adequately protects the public in Northern Ireland. The existing regulatory regime – with its significant loopholes – is falling short.”

While RQIA is responsible for registering establishments that offer private dental care and treatment. The RQIA have said that existing legislation prevents them from regulating a service where the ‘dental health professionals’ are not registered with the GDC, such as dentists from overseas.

The BDA are calling for significant regulatory loopholes to be closed, particularly where illegal practices in dentistry are taking place on non-registered, non-regulated premises by non-GDC-regulated individuals. Highlighting a significant gap in regulatory oversight of dentistry in Northern Ireland and the failure to protect the public adequately.