AN unlicensed dentist stall operated by a roving doctor under the Chuangye overpass in Bao’an District was recently busted by law enforcers, Shenzhen TV reported Sunday.

A resident surnamed Zhang told the SZTV reporter that he had found a self-proclaimed “dentist” examining the teeth of passers-by on a footpath under the Chuangye overpass, noting that most of his customers were elderly people.

According to the report, a black sedan was seen parking by the roadside under the overpass at about 3 p.m. Sunday. A man in his 50s or 60s opened the vehicle’s trunk and hung up an advertising sign listing various dental service items.

The SZTV reporter subsequently came forward and consulted the man about dental problems.

Having sensed the reporter’s misgivings, the “dentist,” surnamed Chen, immediately took out his mobile phone and showed the reporter his income in a bid to prove that he enjoyed a good reputation in the vicinity and his business was prosperous.

The reporter accepted Chen’s service to treat a loose tooth. After negotiating the price, Chen simply sterilized the tools with alcohol and began to operate with his bare hands.

Chen didn’t wear gloves during the entire process, according to the report. The forceps and tweezers used in the treatment were only preliminarily disinfected with alcohol. Moreover, some of the bottles and cans in the vehicle’s trunk didn’t even have production dates.

After confirming Chen’s whereabouts, the reporter immediately contacted the law enforcers with Bao’an District Health Supervision Institute.

Faced with interrogation by law enforcers, Chen admitted that he had been receiving customers in the neighborhood for some time. He claimed that he had previously opened a dental clinic but chose to open a mobile stall as he couldn’t afford the rent.

According to law enforcers, Chen is suspected of operating an illegal medical practice without obtaining a practicing license from a medical institution.

Chen was ordered to immediately stop practicing medicine and all of his medical devices and supplies were seized. An investigation into Chen was conducted in accordance with the law.(Zhang Yu)