Dear Editor,
As a dentist who has been in practice here in Guyana for a number of years and has also been in practice in Brooklyn, New York, for about the same time, I would like the public to understand the ramifications of getting dental treatment from a ‘quack’ or false dentist.
We in the dental profession who are registered as qualified dentists in this country are amazed, confounded and outraged that known illegal activities, especially on the West Coast and Berbice, are continuing daily as the authorities, who should shut down such operations, seem powerless, and worse than that, apparently lack the will to deal with these illegal activities. We, the legitimate dentists of Guyana, are demanding that something be done to bring a semblance of propriety to our profession. Luckily, we have a new Minister of Health and after many years of neglect and lack of concern, we do hope that changes will occur to safeguard, not only our profession, but the general population at large.
The Guyanese public should be aware of the inherent risks in going to a quack ‘dentist.’ Infections from lack of proper sterilization techniques can be widespread and cause serious problems; a lack of proper equipment and supplies combined with a lack of proper training can endanger the patient’s dental health; the use of inferior dental products especially in the construction of dentures and filling materials for restorative procedures results in serious oral health problems, which the public should be aware of and concerned about. There’s a saying, “You pay for what you get,” and what you get when you go to a quack is low quality dental care combined with inherent dangers to your oral health which could endanger your overall health and well-being.
Editor, dentistry is a profession which is under serious threat from these quacks here in Guyana and something has to be done to correct the situation. Not only is the problem one for the legitimate dentists, but the government should be also concerned not only because of public health concerns, but because the financial rewards which quacks receive are never taxed, as the monies collected stay in the pockets of these black market dental criminals ‒ quacks only deal in cash and do not deal with cheques, insurance reimbursement, or NIS coverage, so they are not, like registered dentists, paying their ‘fair share’ to the GRA.
Editor, I have, on many occasions, seen, first hand, the work of quacks from every part of Guyana, and I can assure the citizens of this country that the dental procedures which they perform are criminal, not just in the sense of what is right or wrong based on legal parameters,
but in their willingness to defy basic human decency in dealing with their fellow Guyanese who deserve a lot better.
Yours faithfully,
Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr)
President
Guyana Dental Association
