DT News - UK - GDC announces warning after suspension over fake dental products

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 8 August 2017

save

LONDON, UK: The General Dental Council (GDC) has strongly advised dental professionals in the UK not to buy products from sources that are not compliant with existing standards and regulations. The warning comes after a dentist from North West England was suspended recently for repeatedly having bought counterfeit dental handpieces online.

According to the UK regulator, the 32-year- old purchased risky equipment on an Internet auction website at least three times. It was seized earlier this year during inspections by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) at his practice in Preston in Lancashire. After his hearing in July, he will not be able to practise dentistry for three months, the GDC said.

“This case shows the importance of dentists and dental care professionals adhering to the standards around compliant dental equipment,” Jonathan Green, GDC Director of Fitness to Practise, commented. “Non-compliant equipment endangers the health of both the patient and those using it and it is vital that all items meet safety requirements.”

“As set out in our Standards for Dental Professionals, all members of the dental team must understand and follow the law and regulations in this important area, which go to the heart of patient protection. They must always put patients’ interests first,” he added.

According to MHRA, which regulates all medical devices in the UK, over 10,000 individual pieces of non-complaint or counterfeit dental equipment are seized in dental practices per year. To counter the worrying trend, the agency has been running an awareness campaign in partnership with the British Dental Industry Association since 2014.

“Dental patients are entitled to expect quality care, including the standard of the instruments and devices used by dental professionals. It is vital that dentists and dental staff buy equipment from bona fide suppliers and avoid non-compliant or counterfeit devices. I urge all dental professionals to be cautious of seemingly cheap devices which may be unfit for purpose and potentially dangerous to patients and the staff that use them,” Head of Enforcement at MHRA, Alastair Jeffrey, said.

To post a reply please login or register

Authorities issue warning over buying dental devices online

LONDON, UK: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the health authority that regulates all medicines and medical devices in the UK,...

Dentist under crossfire after “Prosecco smile” warning

LONDON, UK/ROME, Italy: That the consumption of sweet, carbonated and alcoholic drinks—which are all main characteristics of Prosecco—lead to tooth ...

GDC announces reappointment of Moyes

LONDON, UK: The Privy Council of the General Dental Council (GDC) has approved the appointment of William (Bill) Moyes as chair for another term. He will ...

UK dental industry pushes campaign to contain influx of fake products

LONDON, UK: According to figures from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in London, over 12,000 individual pieces of counterfeit...

UK dental industry pushes campaign to contain influx of fake products

LONDON, UK: According to figures from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in London, over 12,000 individual pieces of counterfeit...

“This is how NHS dentistry will die”: BDA issues warning after decline in dental services reported

LONDON, UK: A new poll commissioned by the British Dental Association (BDA) has revealed several worrying trends about the state of public dentistry in the ...

Scottish dental patients receive HIV warning

GLASGOW/DUMFRIES, UK: Only a few days after the UK Department of Health announced that it will ease the ban on HIV-positive medical personnel, health ...

David Waring announced as new Chairman for BOC 2019

LONDON, UK: At a press conference held at the British Orthodontic Conference (BOC) 2018, the British Orthodontic Society (BOS) announced that consultant ...

Eurostat figures add to concerns over shortages after Brexit

LUXEMBOURG: Despite some growth in the overall dental workforce within the last five years, the UK still has one of the lowest ratios of dentists per capita...

Nearly one in three warnings issued by GDC relate to personal conduct

LONDON, UK: Being brought before the General Dental Council (GDC) can be a lengthy and distressing process, with potentially serious consequences, for ...

Education

Live webinar
Tue. 4 August 2026
1:00 am UTC (London)