A WOMAN has been fined more than £2,000 after pleading guilty to carrying out teeth whitening illegally. Angela Johnson, 48, of Wide Smile, Foot Health and Wellbeing Clinic in Hessle, said she had been advised she did not need a dentistry qualification to carry out the work.
Despite letters from the General Dental Council warning her she was breaking the law, Johnson continued the practice until a summons was sent through – at which point she stopped.
Defending Johnson at Beverley Magistrates' Court, Mike Farr said: "Mrs Johnson has never been in court before and regrets the position she is in.
"She accepts she has made a mistake, but believed she could carry out the teeth whitening procedure having been on a day course.
"She had no reason to believe she was doing anything unlawful."
Johnson, who became a qualified beautician 15 years ago, looked into teeth whitening as a possible lucrative area to work in.
The mother of two started carrying out the procedure in December 2012, ceasing teeth whitening work in May this year.
Mr Farr said she carried out 96 treatments during that time, at a cost of £60 a time. Taking into account the costs and equipment, it was said the whitening treatment will have made about £2,000 in total.
He said: "There was insurance in place and there have been no complaints about the work which was carried out.
"She was contacted last September from the General Dental Council and told what she was doing was unlawful.
"The first thing she did was panic and contacted the company that was providing her with the products.
"The company said there was nothing wrong with what she was doing and she took that at face value."
When Johnson received further communication and a summons from the General Dental Council she stopped.
Mr Farr said: "She regrets becoming involved with that line of work and will not be looking at carrying on with that form of work in the future.
"I wonder how many more people are in her position carrying out unlawful work?
"She realises she has been foolish."
Helen Lyle, who was prosecuting on behalf of the General Dental Council, said: "When we receive an allegation of illegal tooth whitening, the General Dental Council will not investigate straight away, but send a warning letter.
"Further allegations were made after the letter and in January, we sent a final warning letter.
"At that point we received a reply which said she didn't think she was breaking the law."
Johnson was given a 12-month conditional discharge, fined £2,000 and told to pay a victim surcharge of £15.
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