A DENTAL technician has admitted he illegally fitted false teeth to more than 1,000 patients.

One disabled man was charged £635 for a set of dentures, even though he could have got them free on the NHS.

And when technician Ray Parker was asked for a refund he pleaded with the patient not to complain to the authorities.

Under current law dental technicians are allowed to make false teeth to order but only dentists can fit them.

Last night Mr Parker, who practises at Dental Design Studios in Portland Road, Hove, admitted to the Argus: "Yes, I'm in contravention of the Dental Act."

But he added: "As well as being a technician I've done 18 months in Canada to become a denturist and get to the standard needed. At the moment what I am doing is illegal, but I feel I'm perfectly capable of fitting dentures."

Mr Parker, who is soon to open another clinic at The Broadway, Worthing, said he had fitted dentures to more than 1,000 different patients in his three years in Hove.

He added that the Clinical Dental Technicians Association, of which he is a member, was lobbying MPs to support their bid to be allowed to fit dentures.

Diabetic David Jones, 59, was bought his false teeth from Mr Parker as a birthday present from his wife.

Queenie Jones, 63, saved for two years to buy them. Mr Jones, of Tintern Close, Hollingdean, Brighton, said: "After a few weeks the dentures started hurting and I had to have emergency treatment for bleeding gums. I spoke to a woman from the Family Health Services Authority and she told me that, as a disabled person, I could have had dental treatment at home and I could even have got it all free.

"But she also said that only dentists are allowed to fit dentures, so Mr Parker was doing so illegally."

Mr Jones, who has emphysema and a broken back from an industrial injury, now plans to sue Mr Parker with the help of the General Dental Council.

AGDC spokesman said: "We know this kind of thing goes on but we do everything in our power to stop it using the law."

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