Prosecution for illegal teeth whitening at beauty salon

The General Dental Council said Janine Gilchrist pleaded guilty to unlawfully offering the treatment at Bohemia and Sisters salon on Kirkgate, in Wakefield, on 22 March 2016 without being on GDC’s list of registered dental professionals.

The GDC decided to prosecute after Gilchrist ignored two previous warning letters to stop offering tooth whitening services.

She appeared at Wakefield Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a contribution towards the GDC’s costs of £260, along with a £15 victim surcharge.

Francesca Keen, head of illegal practice at the GDC, said: “We hope that Ms Gilchrist’s sentence will act as a warning to individuals who continue to carry out illegal tooth whitening.

“If you have tooth whitening by an individual not on the register, it could result in significant, long-term damage to your teeth. We strongly advise anyone considering dental treatment to check the individual is on the GDC register.”