A Medway woman has been fined £2,000 after being prosecuted for unlawfully offering to practice dentistry, namely tooth whitening.

Emily Pearson, was found guilty of the offence after the UK regulator of dental practice the General Dental Council (GDC), prosecuted her at Medway Magistrates’ Court.

Pearson, of Southill Road, Chatham, who was found guilty in her absence, was prosecuted under the Dentists Act 1984 for operating a tooth whitening business at a beauty salon in Gillingham.

By law, only dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists and clinical dental technicians working to the prescription of a dentist can carry out such a procedure.

Magistrates were told the offence happened at the Shine Bright Beauty salon in Jeffrey Street, in February.

Pearson, who was trained by Lovelite, was operating a tooth whitening business that used a self-administer system of whitening.

She was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £1,093 in court costs, which will be awarded to the GDC.

Patients can check their dental professional is registered by logging on to the GDC’s website.