A private dentist in Kingsteignton has been suspended for 18 months by the profession's governing body.

Anita Davies, who operates the Gestridge Dental Studio in Gestridge Road with her husband Tony, has been told by the General Dental Council that she can no longer practice until further notice.

A meeting of the council's Interim Orders Committee made the decision on Friday after a meeting at its London headquarters.

Why the action has been taken remains unclear.

When the Advertiser contacted Mrs Davies she declined to comment.

It is understood that interim orders can be made while further investigations are carried out, although a spokesman for the General Dental Council refused to say if that was the case with Mrs Davies.

According to the surgery's website, Mrs Davies qualified in 1986 from Birmingham University Dental School.

She spent three years with the Royal Navy at HMS Raleigh, Torpoint, and served as an oral surgery registrar at the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth.

Her special interest is those with a fear of dentists.

She has two sons.

The website adds: 'At our clinic we would like to provide and maintain your ideal smile, within your budget.

'At Gestridge Dental Studio we offer help when you need it, information when you want it and support for any dental concerns.

'Your smile is our advert!

'We do not seek praise from our patients. We do not do things for effect. We just try to do the right thing for each individual.

'We are decent people who work together in pursuit of excellence of care for our patients.

'We will do nothing to your smile that we would not do to ours. We welcome feedback, good and bad, and suggestions for improvement.

'We want you to be entirely happy with your smile and our service.'

A spokesman for the surgery said it remained open for business and that other dentists had stepped in to cover Mrs Davies' caseload.