get paid for work not carried out.

Last week, a court was told that the practice of "cross-charging'' -when work not covered by a patient's insurance would be carried out and the company billed for something else - was common among the Island's dentists.

But Dr. Kenneth Snaith, yesterday hit back at the claim saying the dental profession was outraged by the accusation.

Dr. Snaith, chairman of the Bermuda Government Dental Board, said: "I did a quick survey and I am convinced cross-charging is not common practice. It is something I had never heard about.

"We were watching the court case very closely and we were not very happy with the implication that cross-charging was common practice.'' Last week, Dr. Clark Godwin was fined a total of $6,000 after being found guilty of four charges of intent to defraud Somers Isles Insurance in an attempt to gain more than $3,000.

He had treated patients for work not covered by their insurance and then billed the company for work that was covered. He told the court he was helping patients to get the right treatment.

Dr. Godwin also claimed it was common practice for dentists to cross-charge although the Magistrates' Court heard no evidence to support the allegations.

He is to appeal against his sentence.

The five-man Board, which is the controlling body overseeing dentistry in Bermuda, will meet later this month to discuss Dr. Godwin's case.

It has the power to suspend Dr. Godwin or take him off the register of dentists for a period of time. Either way Dr. Godwin will be unable to practice. The Board can also issue a verbal reprimand.

"The Board has not yet formally met to consider Dr. Godwin's case, although I understand he is going to appeal against the sentence. We will be meeting later this month and his case will be on the agenda,'' added Dr. Snaith.