A FORMER Bury dentist -- struck off for excessive prescribing of unnecessary crowns for a female patient's teeth -- lost his bid to be restored to the dental register.

Mohammed Mazharuddin, 59, of the Unsworth Medical Centre, Parr Lane, had been struck off in 1998 after being found guilty of misconduct over his unnecessary prescribing of nine crowns which had been planned for patient, Mrs Julie Ogden.

Mr Martin Rackscraw, for the General Medical Council, said after Mrs Ogden complained of pain an expert examined her and found that none of the nine crowns had been justified.

Eventually, Mrs Ogden had been in such pain that she was unable to drink coffee or chew anything hard.

Mr Rackscraw added that the crowns were not justified and routine fillings would have been appropriate.

Mr Mazharuddin told yesterday's hearing he was deeply ashamed he had let the dental profession down very badly but he had been severely punished already.

He said his health would not permit him to resume full time practice if he was allowed back onto the Register but he wanted to teach other dentists, as well as perhaps to treat close friends and members of his family.

The committee decided to reject Mr Mazharuddin's application, commenting that it was not satisfied he had rectified his clinical shortcomings.