A man who was treated by a fake dentist shared his unsettling experience, describing it as “strange and unusual.” He began to doubt the imposter’s skills when asked to assist with the dental vacuum during his treatment, and his concerns escalated when all his fillings fell out.
Approximately 500 individuals received treatment from Narayan Prasad at his now-closed Hill Park dental clinic in Henderson, where he practiced without the necessary qualifications or registration. Additionally, he operated an X-ray machine on at least 19 occasions without a valid license.
In March, Prasad was sentenced on charges from the Ministry of Health related to his unlicensed dental practice. However, the details of the incidents could not be disclosed until now.
Fillings Dislodged
During the sentencing, one of the victims provided a statement detailing their experience with Prasad. Another patient revealed that Prasad failed to recognize the connection between her deteriorating jawbone and diabetes. Furthermore, a root canal procedure performed by Prasad required the tooth to be replaced due to inadequate preparation, and another patient experienced all their fillings dislodging.
Judge Terence Singh remarked during the sentencing at the Waitākere District Court that the situation must have been extremely unpleasant for the affected individuals.
Prasad was the sole proprietor of the Henderson dental practice. Judge Singh highlighted that Prasad willingly treated patients who believed he was a licensed dentist, which constituted a severe breach of trust.
Prasad admitted to several charges, including performing dental procedures without authorization, issuing false prescriptions, and operating an X-ray machine without a valid license. He was sentenced to three months of community detention but faced the possibility of fines up to $100,000 and a year in prison.
The court rejected Prasad’s request for a discharge without conviction, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses.
Violation of Trust
Judge Singh emphasized that Prasad’s actions constituted a gross violation of trust against his patients and the broader public. The Ministry of Health stated that Prasad’s primary motive was financial gain, rather than the well-being of his patients.
Prasad was also ordered to pay $15,950 in restitution to 28 victims, in addition to serving community detention. The court took into account his remorse, previous good character, community involvement, and health issues.
Tracy Neal, Open Justice reporter
