India’s Dental Startups Draw Regulatory Scrutiny

INDIA: The Dental Council of India (DCI), the regulatory body overseeing dental professionals and education in the country, has raised concerns over certain start-ups engaging in unauthorized dental practices. In a recent directive issued to state dental councils, the DCI highlighted several violations of the Dentists Act, 1948, and the revised Dentists (Code of Ethics) Regulations, 2014, by firms like toothsi and similar service providers.

Unregistered Personnel Performing Dental Services

One of the major violations cited by the DCI is the employment of “untrained and unregistered personnel to carry out dental services” by these companies. According to the regulator, firms like toothsi are “engaging in the provision of dental treatments, teeth scanning and aligner services directly to patients at their homes” through individuals who are not registered as dentists with the respective state dental councils.

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The DCI’s directive emphasized that, as per the provisions of the Dentists Act, only individuals duly registered with state dental councils are authorized to practice dentistry. Furthermore, the (dental) code of ethics stresses the necessity of maintaining professional standards and protecting patient safety, which are jeopardised by unregistered practitioners.

“These services are reportedly being carried out by individuals who are not registered as dentists with the respective state dental councils,” the DCI’s order states.

Cease and Desist Orders Issued

To address these concerns, the DCI has instructed state councils to issue immediate “cease and desist orders” to the companies and individuals found to be violating the provisions of the Dentists Act, 1948, and initiate appropriate legal action against those found to be in violation of the norms.

The regulator has also directed states to raise public awareness regarding the risks associated with receiving dental treatments from unregistered practitioners. Additionally, state councils have been instructed to submit a detailed report of the actions taken and outcomes achieved within 30 days.

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Prominent Start-ups Under Scanner

Notably, toothsi, a dental technology start-up backed by prominent celebrities such as cricketer Virat Kohli and actor Anushka Sharma, has come under the scanner for its “at-home smile makeover service” using clear aligner technology. Experts have pointed out that these services fall under the branch of dentistry called orthodontics, which deals with diagnosing and treating malocclusion (misalignment of teeth).

As the regulatory crackdown intensifies, it remains to be seen how these start-ups will respond to the DCI’s directives and whether they will comply with the norms and regulations governing the dental profession in India.