A money-grabbing dentist who forced patients to endure double the amount of treatments than necessary has been struck off.

Miodrag Mitic, formerly of Earlsgate Dental Practice in Folkestone, was immediately erased from the dentists' register following a hearing by the General Dental Council (GDC).

An investigation into his conduct was launched after NHS England reported him to the GDC in 2017- the same year the doors of his practise in Earls Avenue closed suddenly.

Now, a report from the Professional Conduct Committee has revealed just how serious Mr Mitic's actions 'over a substantial period of time' were.

It shows that as well as a number of clinical failings, he acted with dishonestly by splitting patient's treatments over two appointments, when one would have sufficed.

This allowed him to mis-claim 'in respect of NHS fees' as he could increase his number of UDA claims - which are units of dental activity.

In addition he made claims for treatments that had not been provided, in some cases making claims where 'no practice record forms' were issued or signed by a patient.

It was found he did this 'with the intention of inflating UDA claims' and 'preventing a deduction to your payments from the NHS'.

These actions were described in the report as 'inappropriate' 'misleading' and 'dishonest'.

The report states that: "In relation to probity, [it was] submitted that fraud upon the National Health Service is deplorable and brings the standing of the profession into disrepute and undermines public trust in the profession.

"The fact that there are a number of probity issues, over an extended period of time, demonstrates a deep-seated problem."

The hearing - which Mr Mitic did not attend - also proved a number of significant clinical errors involving 18 patients.

This included failing to perform or record extra-oral examinations, hygiene assessments or record cancer risk assessments for some of these patients, as well as other assessments.

"The committee is in no doubt that fellow professionals would regard his dishonest conduct as deplorable..."

In another case he prescribed antibiotics 'without sufficient clinical justification'.

He was also found to have failed to inform the GDC of his up to date address and failed to co-operate with the investigation.

It was heard that Mr Mitic has not 'accepted any wrongdoing' and as a result the committee 'considers that there is a real risk of repetition of his dishonest conduct and clinical failings'.

It found there is 'a strong public interest' in bringing this case to light.

The report concluded: "Mr Mitic’s conduct amounted to a gross abuse of his position of trust as a registered dentist and for his own personal gain.

"The committee is in no doubt that fellow professionals would regard his dishonest conduct as deplorable.

"The committee is satisfied that Mr Mitic’s dishonest conduct is so serious that it is fundamentally incompatible with him remaining on the Register.

"Accordingly, the committee has determined that the appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case is that of erasure."

The investigation into Mr Mitic launched in August 2017 and three months later he was issued with a temporary ban by the GDC.

Around this time it was understood he left the country.

His business of 10 years, Earlsgate Dental Practice, has been closed since November 2017.

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