The Dental Council of Guyana has warned against quacks advertising dental braces procedures at significantly lower prices. The regulatory authority created by the Dental Registration Act issued the caution after Mikhail Tadius McLennan was caught last week posing as a medical doctor while volunteering at the Guyana Cancer Foundation.
In a post via its Facebook page, the Dental Council released screenshots of promotions being offered by unqualified, unregistered individuals who are performing dental treatment.
It noted that these quacks such as “Braces Lopez” are operating illegally and that procedures done by them can result in irreversible damage to patients.
It is, therefore, urging all members of the public to avoid using such services and to report them to the Dental Council if they are aware of such practices for relevant action to be taken. 
It is also reminding persons that it is in their best interest to ensure they visit a duly qualified and registered dental practitioner, because not doing so, can be and will be detrimental to their health. The Dental Council has also released a list of Dentexes, Dentists, and Dental Technicians, who are registered with the Dental Council for 2022. The list can be viewed here: https://officialgazette.gov.gy/images/gazette2022/may/official_gazettes_14MAY2022.pdf?fbclid=IwAR08RM0kqtSelP9NmtUV6LgSXDvVbeCpM0k1wqXDLmPK5zPL2ntnnF5R15A)
All registered dental practitioners are issued a certificate of registration at the beginning of the year.
That certificate is displayed within their practice whether it be private practice or at a hospital. Persons are encouraged to look out for the certificate and to ask about it if they do not see it.
Late last year, the Dental Council had highlighted that members of the public are oddly referring to this form of orthodontic treatment as fashion pieces and this has caused several persons to want them installed, though having no reason for it.
“These braces are also being advertised for fashion purposes…it’s somewhat of a trend globally where people want to have braces because it looks cool [and]…very much a status thing, but there is no such thing as fashion braces. Braces are an orthodontic treatment done to correct dental and medical issues, not to look good,” it had explained.
The list of registered medical practitioners can be found here https://www.medicalcouncil.org.gy/index.php/reg/doctors-cme-summary-grades-3?fbclid=IwAR0YI8MWuw2gvjZc-FvWfTx0b0LXveZ-fyOrdIDPJIxRtEx7TmQTWLSUMxI
Felony
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has warned that practicing medicine without a licence is a felony under the Medical Practitioners Act. The offence attracts a penalty of 18 months’ imprisonment together with a fine of 225,000 upon summary conviction.
He was at the time commenting on the incident involving Mikhail Tadius McLennan. It is understood that the Guyana Medical Council intends to write the Guyana Police Force (GPF) by the end of this week for an investigation to be conducted into McLennan’s incident.
In the young man’s curriculum vitae (CV) to the Guyana Cancer Foundation, he stated that he studied medicine at the University of Guyana (UG) and the Texila American University.
Both universities, however, have confirmed that he was never registered as a student at the institutions. Also, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan whom the man had listed in his CV as a reference and whom he said was his aunt, has denied being related to him.
In fact, in a Facebook post, the Chief Magistrate wrote: “This character never approached me to be a reference for him and I am in no way related to him.”
The University of Guyana, in a statement, said it views the incident involving McLennan as very serious and urges the young man, and all others wishing to take up significant professions, to follow the lawful and bona fide route in doing so.
Further, the university added that it “does provide many avenues for different types of students as well as academic counselling to assist prospective students in making the right choices in fulfilling their dreams and achieving success.”
It is therefore urging persons to take advantage of these opportunities. (G1)
