Dental association wants police to crack down on unlicensed providers

The Barbados Dental Association (BDA) is sounding the alarm over the growing prevalence of illegal dental and cosmetic procedures performed by unlicensed individuals, warning that public health is at serious risk due to weak enforcement of existing laws.

BDA President Dr Vidya Armogan pointed to a significant issue: While the Dental Act clearly stipulates that any dental procedure—such as tooth whitening, fillings, braces, and veneers—must be conducted by a registered dentist, these laws are not being properly enforced.

“The problem is the enforcement,” he said in an interview with Barbados TODAY. “The law is on the books, but for the police department, I feel it’s a new thing and they don’t know how to deal with it.”

Despite clear legal frameworks and penalties, including fines up to $2 000 and six months in prison for violators, unauthorised practitioners continue to operate with impunity, Dr Armogan said. He noted that many of these illegal providers advertise their services on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, often slipping through the cracks and operating without consequence.

“They’re flying in and out. You may never see them again. They’re coming from a different name and a different location,” he noted.

The BDA noted that most of the unauthorised practitioners entering Barbados are coming from Jamaica, the US, and Trinidad, while some local hair and nail technicians are also being trained to perform procedures they may not realise are illegal. Others, Armogan added, are fully aware of the illegality but continue because “it’s a quick, fast, easy way to deceive the public and make money”.

While the BDA continues to push for better enforcement, it is also urging the government to eliminate VAT and import duties on dental and medical equipment to help make care more accessible and strengthen the country’s dental tourism industry.

In an April 5 press release, the association said it had made multiple offers to the Ministry of Health—including free volunteer service from private dentists and the donation of internationally recognised dental software—but received no formal acknowledgment.

“Dentists in Barbados have always been willing to serve. What we need is support from the government to ensure clinics are adequately staffed, supplied, and maintained,” Dr Armogan stated in the release.

The BDA stressed that members were not considering withdrawing services or taking industrial action, as that would only harm the public.

“No, I don’t think that’s in the public’s interest, quite honestly,” Dr Armogan said when asked. “If we withdraw services, the first people to suffer are the public and marketers. And so that’s not really something we would consider.”

Instead, the association is calling for stronger action from government authorities.

“There are people coming in doing dental procedures on a medical site, there are people doing botox fillers and mole removals. These are things that can go wrong quickly, and it’s not fair to the Barbadian public,” Armogan said.

The BDA urged the Ministry of Health and the Barbados Police Service to step up monitoring and enforcement and to crack down on the illegal practice before more harm is done.

“We must move beyond blame and work collaboratively to restore the integrity of our public dental services,” Armogan added in the official release. “Our profession stands ready to help—now we need the systems and leadership in place to allow that help to be effective.”

(SM)