Bogus dentists outnumber real ones in Italy

Rome - Bogus dentists outnumber genuine ones in Italy - where more than 45,000 unqualified people are believed to be working as dentists.

Giuseppe Renzo, of Italy's Order of Dentists, says he has heard of tailors, plumbers and even traffic wardens removing teeth and fixing crowns.

He told a conference in Rome that bogus dentists now outnumber real ones, and urged for the government to tackle the problem.

Mr Renzo added that many had obtained worthless certificates from the internet or just bought a plaque, called themselves dentists and opened a practice.

He said: ''To some this may seem like a joke but I can tell you it is no laughing matter.

"These false dentists do not have any idea of how to carry out dentistry, and they have no grasp of hygiene either, and people who use them are risking the health of their teeth.

''Traffic wardens should stick to handing out parking tickets, plumbers fixing pipes and tailors making suits. Being a dentist is a highly professional responsibility.

''I would appeal to the government that more be done to stamp out these false dentists.' '-- Reuters

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