A BEAUTICIAN from Hampshire has been found guilty of illegally performing tooth whitening procedures without proper qualifications, a court heard.

Gemma Denham offered the treatments at a New Forest salon – despite being previously warned by authorities that she was putting patients at risk.

Now she has been ordered to pay nearly £3,000 in costs after being prosecuted by the General Dental Council (GDC).

Denham, who offers treatments from JW Beauty salon in Lymington, failed to attend the hearing at Southampton Magistrates Court but was found guilty in her absence.

The court heard how she offered tooth whitening services without being on the list of registered dental professionals.

The treatment was carried out on June 9, when Denham offered a GDC investigator the procedure, it was heard.

The court heard how there had been previous complaints after Denham, of Ice White beauty, which operates out of JW Beauty, had previously offered the treatments and on these occasions the GDC’s illegal practice team sent warning letters explaining the legalities of tooth whitening and the consequences of continuing to act in breach of the law.

Now Denham has been fined £770 and ordered to pay £1,920 costs and a victim surcharge of £77.

Helen Lyle, Senior Prosecutions Lawyer at the GDC, said: “Today’s result is another victory for public protection. Illegal tooth whitening poses a substantial risk to patients and we are pleased that the courts continue to take this seriously.

“Illegal tooth whitening can result in serious, long lasting damage to a person’s teeth. Tooth whitening is the practice of dentistry and only individuals registered with the GDC have the sufficient training, skills and expertise to carry it out safely.

“The GDC certainly hopes that these continuous, successful prosecutions, of which this is the nineteenth this year, serves as a warning to anybody who is continuing to put people at risk through illegal practice.”

She urged anyone considering tooth whitening treatment first checks the GDC’s list of registered, dental professionals an added: “We rely heavily on referrals from the public, so if you are aware of any individuals carrying out illegal tooth whitening, please alert the GDC to this.”

The list is available at gdc-uk.org

Ian Watkins, a director at New Forest Hair Ltd which runs the salon stressed that Denham is a third party contractor rather than working directly for him, but said: "She will not be providing tooth whitening from our premises anymore but she can still use our premises for offering other treatments."