Health warning over online ‘fashion-themed’ dental services
THE DENTAL Council has warned people against shopping for online orthodontic services or products, as these could be harmful to their health.
“Substandard retainers and rubber bands may cause wounds and inflammation. Users risk taking heavy metals like cadmium and lead into their body,” the council’s president, Paisal Kangwongkijm, said yesterday.
He said the accumulation of metal and chemicals could harm the liver and, in the long term, cause cancer.
“There are cases of fashion-themed, unauthorised orthodontics services causing deaths too,” he said.
Paisal was speaking at a press conference after authorities found 308 shops providing orthodontic services without a licence or offering substandard orthodontic supplies during the past 10 months.
Some operators have advertised their products and services online.
“Online services and products are illegal. Orthodontic services must be provided by dentists specialising in the field,” Paisal said.
He added that people offering dental services or products online had violated the law. Offenders, he said, were liable to five years in jail and/or a maximum fine of Bt500,000.
Meanwhile, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deputy secretary-general Somchai Preechathaveekid said his agency would consider taking action against a controversial laboratory in Ratchaburi province. “Its licence may be suspended or revoked,” he said.
The lab was caught up in a scandal after a famous singer advertised its online retainer service in a social-media post last April. Its sales reportedly soared by more than Bt10 million.
Thongchai Vachirarojpisan, a dentist working in the consumer-protection field, said provincial public-health offices had been instructed to investigate suppliers or operators that offered unauthorised orthodontic products and services.
“We have found such suppliers and operators in 19 provinces already. The provincial public-health offices will work with police in bringing the culprits to justice,” he said.