A BRADFORD dentist has had conditions placed on his registration for 18 months after a number of concerns were raised. 

Dr Waqar Mohammed, of Heaton Dental Care, Toller Lane, and Clayton Dental Care in Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire, was made the subject of an interim order following a hearing on March 2.

The General Dental Council’s (GDC) Interim Orders Committee (IOC) considers whether it is necessary to make an order affecting an individual’s registration pending the outcome of an inquiry. A determination from the hearing outlined the issues specifically raised in relation to Clayton Dental Care, where Dr Mohammed is practice principal. 

The determination said: “The concerns include patients suffering from pain and infection because of poor management including leaving caries and/or periodontal disease untreated. Concerns have been raised about 27 separate patients covering the period from 2016-2020.

"The concerns are extensive and widespread and include failure to carry out radiographic screening and periodontal monitoring, failure to obtain valid consent, failure to carry out sufficient treatment planning, failure to diagnose the source of pain, poor patient management overall resulting in extractions and possible loss of further teeth, failure to diagnose caries, and provision of antibiotics without clinical justification.”

Allegations were also made regarding fraudulent prescriptions.

A submission on behalf of the GDC said there would be a “very real risk posed” if no order was made and the “confidence of the public in the dental profession would be undermined” if Dr Mohammed was able to continue in practice unrestricted.

On behalf of the dentist, it was submitted that an order was not necessary and the complaint is “scant on detail particularly with regards to the allegations relating to fraudulent prescriptions”.

Regarding the clinical concerns, it was said the complainant was a previous associate whose relationship with Dr Mohammed had broken down.

The determination said the dentist has co-operated with the GDC, supplied patient records and is liaising with NHS England.

It was submitted that the “bulk of the complaint relates to record keeping issues” and there have been no patient complaints.

When making the decision, the IOC said allegations relating to fraudulent prescriptions are “very scant in detail”and, at present “there is not a prima facia case in respect of these concerns”.

But, it said those relating to clinical concerns are “very detailed and specific” and serious enough to warrant an order for the protection of the public and necessary in the public interest.  

The IOC said: “In deciding to impose conditions, it was satisfied that the risk in this case is not such that the suspension of your registration is justified. It also noted that neither party submitted that an interim suspension was necessary in this case.”

Dr Mohammed said: “I always strive to provide the very best care for my patients. I am disappointed with the interim conditions set out, however I continue to co-operate fully with the investigation.”