A TOOTH whitening training provider has been found guilty of illegally practising dentistry at an Usk hotel.

Martyn Collier, sole director of Smile Like the Stars Training Limited, was found guilty at Cwmbran Magistrates' Court on June 1 of two offences of unlawfully practising dentistry, namely tooth whitening.

The prosecution by the UK regulator of dental practice, the General Dental Council (GDC), is their first of an illegal tooth whitening training provider.

Both offences took place on March 3, 2014 at the Best Western Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel and Spa in Llangybi.

Tooth whitening is the practice of dentistry and legally, it can only be carried out by individuals who are regulated by the GDC, specifically dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, or clinical dental technicians working to a dentist's prescription.

Mr Collier, who has never been registered with the GDC, was found guilty of unlawfully practising dentistry in relation to tooth whitening he performed on two individuals whilst he purported to train them.

The training that Mr Collier purported to provide would not legally enable his trainees to practise tooth whitening.

The complainants booked the training at a cost of £1,495 with Smile Like the Stars Training Limited through Mr Collier's website, The Teeth Whitening Training School.

The complainants were falsely told that the training would result in a qualification that would legally allow them to provide tooth whitening treatments.

Mr Collier provided the complainants with false and misleading documents about the legality of tooth whitening and methods to avoid prosecution.

Mr Collier was sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge.

He was ordered to pay compensation of £1,495 to his victims, a £15 victim surcharge and costs to the GDC of £3,500.

Patients can check their dental professional is registered by logging on to the GDC's website at gdc-uk.org