RAWALPINDI: Street dentistry is going unchecked in the garrison city, especially in Fawara Chowk, despite the formation of the District Health Authority and the Punjab Health Management Company.

Footpaths along City Saddar Road, adjacent to the police headquarters of the city circle and the parking plaza, are lined with fake dentists who have set up shop and clean people’s teeth and treat dental illnesses for between Rs20 and Rs50.

Most of the quacks have on display denture sets and have inscribed catchy slogans on signboards to attract customers and perform a number of dental procedures including filling, scaling and crowning and also give medicines for bleeding and toothache.

“My family has been in this profession for two generations and we have always set up shop in Raja Bazaar. I learnt the trade of curing dental illenesses from my father and people come to us for cures,” said a street dentist, Mohammad Akbar.

He said all the medicines at his shop are made from natural ingredients such as cloves and that they are not detrimental to health. Mr Akbar says he sees more than 10-15 people at his stall every day.

Another street dentist, Abdul Sattar said he has been in the profession for five years and that he can extract teeth without injuring gums, can fix dentures and treat toothache.

Medical practitioners have been trying to raise awareness about the various diseases that can be contracted from the use of unsterilised equipment such as hepatitis B and C and have urged the government to take action against them.

“People should go to government hospitals or private clinics for dental problems where sterilised equipments are used,” said Dr Intikhab Alam, a senior dentist in a private hospital.

Dr Haider Akhter at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital said street dentists are contributing to the spread of some diseases such as hepatitis B and C and that infections from using unsterilised equipments can also lead to cancer.

Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation Chief Municipal Officer Khalid Javed Goraya said the RMC has launched an anti-encroachment drive and is removing all stalls from footpaths. He said the health department should impose fines and register cases against street dentists.

District Health Officer Dr Amir Sheikh told Dawn the health department has recently launched campaigns and lodged two FIRs against such stall holders. However, he said, the quacks always come back after the campaigns are conducted. He added that the health authority had asked the police to help in a grand operation in this regard.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2018