Hong Kong police arrest man over alleged illegal cross-border dental care

Hong Kong police have arrested a 72-year-old man and raided a consultation center operated by a mainland Chinese dental chain as part of an investigation into alleged illegal dental practices. The raid, conducted jointly with the Department of Health, also saw the seizure of suspected dental equipment.

The action comes after the Hong Kong Dental Association (HKDA) raised concerns about mainland clinics aggressively marketing low-cost, rapid dental treatments to Hong Kong residents. The association highlighted a growing number of patients requiring corrective procedures after receiving treatment outside the city.

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They perform high-risk dental procedures without a full understanding of the patient’s medical history, exaggerate how simple treatments may be, boast about rapid recovery times, and even use pushy sales tactics to create a false sense of urgency, forcing patients into high-risk procedures.

A survey by the HKDA indicated that Hong Kong dentists see an average of four patients monthly needing follow-up care from cross-border treatments. Common issues include dental implants, root canals, and fillings, with some patients needing multiple procedures.

Dentist Chan Chi Chun described the marketing practices as "very concerning," noting that some chains perform high-risk procedures without a full understanding of a patient's medical history. He warned that inadequate preoperative assessments pose "immense risks" to patients. The HKDA also reported that undercover staff found unqualified individuals wearing doctor's coats at a newly established consultation center in Hong Kong.

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If patients undergo treatment without accurate and comprehensive preoperative assessments, it gives rise to immense risks.