A man has been fined £500 after offering a tooth-whitening service illegally.

Michael Flanagan was prosecuted for practising dentistry without being registered with the General Dental Council.

He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court today to unlawfully holding himself out as being prepared to practise dentistry contrary to Section 38 of the Dentists Act 1984.

The offence relates to an incident on August 1, when Flanagan was working at 26 Kings Hill Avenue, Maidstone, and offering tooth whitening under the ‘Smile 60’ franchise.

He was also ordered to pay a £50 victim surcharge and costs of £1,442.

Flanagan had previously been prosecuted by the General Dental Council in February of this year for a similar offence when he was given a 12-month conditional discharge.

He admitted breaching the conditions of that discharge.

Only dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists and clinical dental technicians (working to the prescription of a dentist) can carry out tooth whitening.

A High Court decision in May 2013 confirmed that tooth whitening is the practice of dentistry and should only be undertaken by registered dental professionals.