Despite regulations limiting its practice, illegal dentistry continues to plague both wealthy and poor countries, causing serious harm to individuals, according to an FDI World Dental Federation report that was published on July 2. Stronger measures, including tougher laws and penalties for offenders, stronger monitoring, and improved access to and affordable dental care, are needed to deter the illegal trade, according to the report.
To assess the extent of illegal dentistry worldwide and the effectiveness of enforcement measures, the FDI surveyed 49 national dental associations (NDAs) from January to April 2024. Illegal dentistry included practicing without a license, lacking recognized dental qualifications, operating outside the legal scope of practice, using dental titles fraudulently, and operating unlicensed dental clinics.
Ninety-five percent of countries have laws against illegal dentistry, according to the report. Forty-nine percent of NDAs said such regulations are effective, while 47% said they were ineffective. Further, 58% of NDAs reported cases of bodily harm from illegal practices, FDI said. Illegal dentistry poses a threat to the public, as it can result in:
- Infections and complications
- Permanent oral or facial damage
- Financial exploitation of patients
- A lack of accountability and patient protection
Common illegal dentistry practices, FDI said, include:
- Tooth whitening, veneers, and orthodontics done by unqualified people
- Extractions, dentures, and implants in non-clinical offices
- Procedures in beauty salons, homes, or hotels
- Dental devices sold online and remote orthodontics
- Misleading social media advertising
The FDI identified six key recommendations it said would effectively counter the illegal trade:
- Strengthen and update dental laws.
- Apply meaningful penalties to offenders.
- Improve data collection and monitoring.
- Enable anonymous reporting of perpetrators.
- Improve access to and affordable legal dental care.
- Foster greater collaboration between NDAs, law enforcement, and government agencies
NDAs can help reduce illegal and unsafe dentistry by reporting unlawful practices and perpetrators to law enforcement; collaborating with regulators, police, and dental schools; providing support and guidance to victims; and educating the public through multichannel media campaigns.
“Illegal dental practice is not only a legal issue -- it reflects systemic gaps in access, regulation, enforcement, and public awareness. Protecting patients requires coordinated action across policy, enforcement, education, and health system reform,” the report concluded.
An abridged version of the report is available on FDI’s website.
