A 36-year-old man who practised dentistry without registration was sentenced to six months' jail suspended for three years. Ng Chi-san's unregistered practice came to light in March when his patient Chan Wai became suspicious after suffering from prolonged odontitis - an inflammation of the tooth pulp - as a result of dental surgery performed by Ng three years earlier, Tsuen Wan Court heard. In mitigation, Ng's lawyer told the court that his client had practised dentistry on the mainland for more than 10 years and that he was a qualified dentist. The defence counsel also told the court that Ng had promised not to practise anything related to dentistry in the future. Ng had earlier pleaded guilty to five charges - practising dentistry by an unregistered person resulting in personal injury, practising dentistry by an unregistered person, implying to be qualified to practise dentistry by unlawful use of title, possession of Part I poisons and possession of substances to which the Antibiotics Ordinance applies. In sentencing, Magistrate Sham Siu-man told Ng he should not practise as long as he was not registered in Hong Kong. He also said the injuries suffered by his patient might be an indication of his dentistry skills. Having considered background reports, which contained favourable comments, and other mitigating factors, Mr Sham ordered a suspended instead of custodial sentence. The court earlier heard that Mr Chan sought treatment from Ng in November 2005 in a building in Tsuen Wan.
