Conviction and Fine for Unregistered Dental Work

A second man has been convicted and fined for practising dentistry without registration in the Manukau district court.

Director of Public Health Dr Colin Tukuitonga says Touanga Moala, who was in New Zealand on a visitor's permit, was fitting gold caps to individual's teeth for cosmetic purposes. Moala was fined $2500 and had to pay $990 in court costs.

Dr Tukuitonga says the court heard that anyone treated by the man ran a significant risk of infection, costly remedial work or even removal of diseased teeth.

The Ministry of Health strongly advises against healthy teeth being ground down and a gold cap added for cosmetic purposes, particularly when this is done by an unregistered practitioner working in non-sterile conditions.

There is a serious risk of infection because the dental work was carried out in insanitary premises, used unsterilised equipment and failed to dispose of needles and syringes adequately. The Ministry was aware of cases where individuals treated by Moala lost the caps from being poorly fitted, had discoloured teeth from subsequent infection or had their treated teeth removed where infection had spread too far.

Dr Tukuitonga says the Ministry took these issues very seriously and would prosecute anyone found operating in similar circumstances.

In August last year, Satnam Singh Dugh was convicted and fined in Napier for practicing without registration.

© Scoop Media