Tightening screws on dental scams

PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry is coming down hard on illegal dental practitioners, says Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The Health director-general noted that such activities could have a negative impact and harm the public’s health.

“Curbing rampant illegal dental activities is a shared responsibility, either with those who provide and receive treatments or those who conduct unauthorised training services.

“The ministry takes every complaint seriously and an investigation will be carried out before enforcement (raids) can be done.”

He pointed out that action could be taken against these illegal practitioners under Part VI of the Dental Act 2018 (Act 804).

“Intelligence gathering and investigations need to be carried out carefully to ensure that elements of guilt can be proven without being hasty,” he said.

Risky business: A flashback on the issue of illegal dental activities that was carried on the front page ofThe Star on July 4.

He was responding to The Star’s series of reports exposing syndicates in the beauty industry that allegedly offer short dentistry courses to anyone who wishes to acquire the skills and set up their own business.For a fee ranging from RM1,000 to RM3,000, the public can participate in various courses such as installing braces or veneers or performing whitening procedures, with a certificate and starter kit given at the end of the class.

An undercover journalist from The Star was “certified” as a “dentist” who could perform dental veneers on others after attending one of the courses that lasted only five hours.

Dr Noor Hisham urged those with information to file an official complaint with the ministry’s Dental Health Programme at its office in Putrajaya, or call 03-88834215 or send an email to [e-mail].