Dental asso. warns of alleged illegal consultation by mainland chains

The Hong Kong Dental Association flags alleged illegal consultation services offered by some mainland dental chains in Hong Kong.

The association urges the public to assess the risks more carefully before undergoing treatments at some dental chains up north.

With more Hong Kong residents travelling north for dental services, some mainland dental chains have set up shop in the SAR to offer consultation services.

Some display dental implant prices with complimentary transport to their mainland branches.

When our TVB reporter visited one consultation station posing as a customer, staff admitted they are not licensed dentists.

The Hong Kong Dental Association says in one undercover case, a staffer donning a white coat claimed to be dentist, invited a customer to sit in a dental treatment chair, used an intraoral camera to examine the mouth and provided treatment recommendations.

But no dentist licence was displayed at the site, raising concerns over possible illegal practice of dentistry.

The dental association adds that advertising by these chains has become ubiquitous in Hong Kong, touting their treatment as simple, quick and low-cost -- which could lead patients to underestimate the potential risks and complications.

HK Dental Association President SPENCER CHAN CHIU-YEE: "It's also happening in Singapore. I think they are suffering from the competition from the Malaysia inland. Normal competition we are welcome. What we are after is whenever an incident involves the permanent damage to the patient -- that is irreversible damage."

A survey by the body found among 200 dentists interviewed, each received an average of four patients per month requiring follow-up treatment in Hong Kong after receiving services up north.

Nearly 70 percent of these cases involved dental implants.

The Hong Kong Dental Association has also signed a joint declaration with around 15 other local dental groups alongside two dental academics from the Chinese mainland, urging the government to amend the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance to include additional dental treatments in its schedule of regulated items.

The declaration also calls for stronger oversight and regulatory clarity under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.