An investigation by the Hong Kong Dental Association found that some chains had set up booths in busy districts, offering free teeth cleaning and cross-border shuttle-bus services to attract customers. In an undercover visit to one such outlet, the group found a staff member wearing a doctor’s coat and using an intraoral camera to perform examinations and provide treatment advice.

The police and the Health Department have since stepped in and arrested a 72-year-old man for alleged illegal dentistry.

The association surveyed more than 200 Hong Kong dental clinics and found that each dentist reportedly handled an average of four patients a month who needed follow-up treatment after visiting a mainland dental clinic. In a separate poll by dental students at the University of Hong Kong, 51 per cent of 311 Hong Kong adults polled saw advertisements for Shenzhen dental clinics at least three times a week, while 10 per cent said they received dental treatment at clinics or hospitals in Shenzhen.

Dental treatments in Hong Kong are costly. It may also involve long waits because of a shortage of dentists in the public and private sectors. That is why Hongkongers are increasingly drawn to the lower prices and quicker service of dental care on the mainland. The trend is likely to continue as cross-border integration intensifies.

Hong Kong dentists should brace themselves for the unavoidable competition. At the same time, consumers also need to be fully aware that dental care is different from getting a haircut or a foot massage. Cost considerations aside, the quality of care and safety are also important. Meanwhile, the city must draw a firmer line against practices that blur marketing, diagnosis and treatment in the medical field. Enforcement actions must be taken when there is clear evidence of unlicensed services or inappropriate promotions.

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