The last bite

Frozen out

While the General Dental Council still seeks to track down those practising dentistry illegally in the UK it seems that in the United States it falls to the police to ‘protect the public’ against illegal operators. A recent case from Virginia came to light when a patient alerted the cops to what she thought might be an unlicensed dentist after contracting a post-root canal infection.

The woman had been directed to the ‘practitioner’ by word of mouth and told that it would be much cheaper than from a licensed dentist (which you would think might start alarm bells ringing). A warrant was issued and the officers, being directed to the basement by the aggrieved patient, moved aside a large fridge to reveal the door to the ‘secret office’. 

What is slightly curious is that the patient only seemed to be unhappy with this illicit treatment after the event. Surely moving aside a household appliance to get into a surgery must have raised some suspicions? In the UK she might have been confused by stories about difficulty getting treatment, but I think having to move a fridge is taking preventing access to care a step too far.