Wakefield beauty salon convicted over illegal teeth whitening

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

The General Dental Council said that it had decided to prosecute after Gilchrist ignored two previous warning letters to stop offering tooth whitening services.

She appeared at a hearing at Wakefield Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Gilchrist was given a 12-month conditional discharge and was also ordered to pay a contribution towards the General Dental Council’s costs of £260, along with a £15 victim surcharge.

Francesca Keen, head of illegal practice at the General Dental Council, welcomed the outcome and said she hoped other people would take note of it.

She 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 General Dental Council register.”