KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry continues to detect unlicensed dentists offering their services through social media sites, despite taking legal action against these individuals.
According to Harian Metro, these fake dentists are believed to have acquired skills and 'certificates' as a result of participating in short-term courses offered by certain individuals, from as little as RM5,000.
These courses include how to affix braces and dental veneers as well as administer teeth whitening and various other treatments.
A source from the Health Ministry's Private Medical Practice Control Section said they were continuing efforts to track down these individuals who offer their services at home, at beauty salons, or offer mobile services at hotels.
The source added that the section was continuously working to disable the activities of these fake dentists.
"This firm action can be seen in the case where an uncertified dentist was recently sentenced to a fine of RM85,000 or two years in prison.
"The accused, Rezkiputri Akmal Riplis, 31, was sentenced by judge Rasyihah Ghazali at the Shah Alam Sessions Court, in Selangor," the source said.
It was reported that the accused was found guilty of practicing dentistry without being registered under the Dental Act 2018, which carries a fine of RM45,000 or 12 months imprisonment if she failed to pay the fine.
The accused was also sentenced to a fine of RM40,000 or 12 months in prison under Section 63(1)(d) of the same Act, for using a dental chair to induce a person to believe that she was qualified to practice dentistry.
Based on the facts of the case, a team of dental enforcement officers from the Legal and Enforcement Section of the Selangor Health Department's Dental Health Division, led by Dr Izwan Abd Hamid conducted a surprise inspection at a premises in USJ, Subang Jaya, Selangor at 11.40am, on Dec 13 last year.
When the raid was carried out, enforcement officers found a woman performing dental treatment on a male customer who was lying on the dental chair in the premises.
There was also dental equipment and materials believed to be used for scaling and braces in the room.
The accused failed to produce a Certificate of Registration with the Malaysian Dental Council as well as an annual practicing certificate.
Further investigations found that the premises were not registered as a private dental clinic with the ministry.
Subsequently, the accused was found to have violated Sections 62(1) and 63(1)(d) of the Dental Act 2018.
The prosecution was carried out by the prosecuting officer of the Health Ministry, Musfirah Musa.
In June this year, 30-year-old Nurul Maisarah Mazelan was fined RM30,000 by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court for providing private dental clinic services in a house without being registered with the Malaysian Dental Council.
She was charged with practicing dentistry without being registered under the Dental Act 2018 at a two-storey house in Taman Desiran Bayu, Puchong here at 2.52pm on June 7.