Jaw-dropping horror of bargain-priced braces

PETALING JAYA: Many people opt to wear braces to straigthen their teeth and for aesthetics.

Such a delicate procedure must be done by a trained professional given its complexity.

However, problems will occur when the procedure is carried out by someone without proper training or certification, said Malaysian Dental Association president Dr Lim Chiew Wooi.

These procedures by illegal dental practitioners, or quacks, are downright unethical and unlawful, he added.

“Unsuspecting patients will get undesirable results and are at risk of injuring themselves.

“This also makes proper treatment at a later stage more difficult, or worse, could result in permanent damage,” he said when contacted.

Dr Lim said that there is also a lack of infection control measures.

“Dental instruments need to be sterilised through autoclaving or thrown away upon use if they are disposable, and the protocol for treating patients can only be learnt at a proper educational institution.

“When no infection control measures are taken during treatment, one may introduce bacteria and viruses into the patient’s body which could cause the patient to fall ill,” he said, adding that it could become life-threatening.

He added that it is not uncommon to hear about such illegal practitioners given that there is a demand for them.

“The public should empower themselves with dental knowledge so that they can identify legally qualified dental practitioners.

“They should not fall into the trap of cheap fees,” he said.

He added that legal dental practitioners are registered with the Malaysian Dental Council and have an Annual Practising Certificate (APC).

Private dental clinics also need a “Borang C” issued under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.

His comments come following a viral tweet on Tuesday of a user promoting a brace installation service by an allegedly uncertified acquaintance to another user who enquired on the price of braces.

“My friend does it (brace installation) for only RM300 and also does house calls.

“You can do monthly check-ups for only RM50 or opt to have it done at a clinic, and she’s certified (I guess). Do you want the number?” read the tweet.

This caught the attention of the Health Ministry, which responded to the tweet by asking for the person’s number.

The user has since made her account private.

The ministry’s Dental Health Programme Twitter account also responded with various tweets highlighting the dangers of a fake brace installation which include bleeding gums, tooth decay and the use of potentially hazardous material.

There were also previously reported cases of individuals providing dental services without a licence.

In 2017, Nur Farahanis Ezatty Adli, 20, was jailed six days for running a dental clinic that was not registered under Section 27 of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.In the same year, Syidatul Hizlin Abd Hamid, 19, was fined RM40,000 in default of a year’s jail by a Sessions Court for providing an unlicensed dental brace-fitting service at a homestay in Kuala Terengganu.

In 2016, Nurul Nadzirah Mohd Saidi, 21, was fined RM25,000 after pleading guilty to offering the service at a hotel room in Kuala Terengganu.

She admitted to learning how to fit a dental brace through videos on YouTube.