- 72-year-old local man has been arrested in a joint crackdown by police and the Department of Health on unlicensed dental services.
- The suspect was apprehended at a clinic located on 37 King's Road for allegedly practicing dentistry without registration.
- Authorities seized medical equipment during the raid, including a suspected intraoral scanner, a dental chair, and various dental tools as evidence.
- The enforcement action followed complaints of illegal medical practices and misleading customers at the mainland dental chain's consultation center.
- The arrested man is currently being detained for further questioning and is not a registered dentist.
- Investigations are ongoing into how long the suspect has been providing services and how many patients he has treated.
- Senior dental officer Andrew But reminded residents not to receive treatment at any unlicensed dental clinics to avoid health hazards.
- Only registered dentists are permitted to practice dentistry in Hong Kong, which includes using intraoral scanners to acquire digital images.
- Anyone providing such services without registration commits an offense and faces a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.
A 72-year-old local man was arrested during a police raid on a dental center on King's Road in Hong Kong, suspected of practicing dentistry without registration. The operation was part of a crackdown on unlicensed dental services following complaints about illegal practices.1
Authorities seized medical equipment including a suspected intraoral scanner and dental tools. Divisional commander Ma Yee-ling stated that investigations are ongoing to determine how long the suspect has been providing services and the number of patients treated. She confirmed that the suspect is a local resident with a Hong Kong identity card, but there is currently no evidence linking him to a dental clinic chain.6
The raid was prompted by the Hong Kong Dental Association (HKDA), which had sent 'mystery shoppers' to investigate two consultation centers earlier this month. They found uncertified staff falsely claiming to be dentists, leading to concerns about health hazards for patients. Senior dental officer Andrew But urged residents to avoid unlicensed clinics and reminded them to check the list of registered dentists on the Dental Council of Hong Kong website.
The police reiterated that under the Dentists Registration Ordinance, only registered dentists can practice in Hong Kong, with violations carrying a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment. Dr. Andrew But emphasized the importance of public health and safety, stating that authorities will continue to enforce laws against unlicensed dental activities.8
“During the raid, authorities seized equipment including a suspected intraoral scanner, dental chair, and various dental tools as evidence. The Hong Kong Dental Association had sent mystery shoppers to consultation centers earlier this month, discovering uncertified staff in doctors' coats falsely claiming to be dentists and using intraoral endoscopes to diagnose patients.”
