Woman 'who learned to make retainers from social media' arrested at unlicensed dental clinic
A DIY dentist was arrested for allegedly running an unlicensed clinic in central Thailand.
Chotika, 31, reportedly learned how to make retainers from videos on social media before setting up her own backstreet clinic in Ayutthaya.
She advertised her services on Facebook, gaining up to 40 customers per month, before police raided her home in the Uthai district on September 14.
Officers found her in the middle of taking a client's dental impressions to make retainers.
Chotika was arrested on suspicion of practising dentistry without a licence and operating an unlicensed medical facility. The first offence carries up to two years in prison, a 30,000 baht fine, or both, while the second carries up to five years in prison, a 100,000 baht fine, or both.
Authorities said the raid followed a tip-off that Chotika was illegally practising dentistry.
During questioning, she allegedly admitted she taught herself how to make retainers online 'because the income was higher'.
Arkom Praditsuwan, deputy director-general of the Department of Health Service Support, warned that unlicensed dental clinics could expose patients to serious health risks.
He said: Dental procedures are important for maintaining oral health, preventing diseases and enhancing overall quality of life.
‘Therefore, patients must seek services exclusively from legally registered medical facilities and licensed practitioners.
‘Failure to do so may pose serious health and physical risks.
‘For instance, receiving retainer services from illegal clinics carries significant hygiene risks, such as the use of unsterilised impression materials.
‘When these materials are reused on subsequent patients, pathogens may be transmitted into the body.
‘Furthermore, the materials supplied to clients are substandard imitations of orthodontic equipment and may be contaminated with toxic heavy metals or non-food-grade dyes.
‘If these substances flake or dissolve, their ingestion may cause illness.
‘Importantly, wearing fashion retainers often exerts undue pressure on the teeth, causing tooth movement, gingival inflammation and damage to the tooth roots.
‘Additionally, the fitted wires may lacerate oral tissues, resulting in ulcers that could potentially progress to oral cancer.'
Police Lieutenant General Natthasak Chaowanasai, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, said authorities will continue to hunt unlicensed medical professionals who provide treatment without proper qualifications.
He added: 'Teeth are essential for chewing and also play an important role in a person's appearance, so it is important to seek treatment only from qualified dentists and legally licensed dental facilities. Before undergoing any procedure, patients should check the dentist's nameplate and verify the facility's licence with the Dental Council of Thailand to protect themselves from potential harm.'
The latest arrest comes after five suspected fake dentists were arrested in raids on illegal clinics in Bangkok and surrounding areas on August 20, with more than 330,000 baht worth of unregistered medicines, dental tools and medical equipment seized.
