Illegal tooth whitening exposed
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A Which? investigation has uncovered beauty salons allowing unqualified staff to carry out teeth-whitening treatments that can inflict permanent damage.
Clinics across the country are undercutting dentists’ prices and cashing in on the trend for Hollywood-white teeth.
But many employ beauty therapists who, after a few days’ training, apply harmful chemicals that can damage clients’ gums and could land them with hefty fines. This is because, the UK dental regulator says, teeth whitening by non-dentists is illegal.
Beauty salons
In our snaphot survey, our reporter posed as a potential client at six London beauty salons.
All six said that their procedure wasn’t performed by a dentist and half were using dangerous chemicals. We also uncovered misleading advice and the use of whitening ‘lasers’ that have no proven effect.
The General Dental Council (GDC) is now investigating these clinics and has asked us not to name them while enquiries continue.Its President Hew Mathewson and James Goolnik of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) looked at our research.
Chemicals
Most tooth-whitening treatments use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, both proven to bleach teeth. But three salons offered a chlorine dioxide treatment. James said: ‘This chemical is a bleaching agent more commonly used to purify water and is very acidic. It can wreck tooth enamel.’
The other clinics use hydrogen peroxide in strengths from 0.6 to 10 per cent, which are above the legal limit.
Gum disease
Nobody with gum disease should consider teeth-whitening treatment due to the risk of further irritation and ulcerated and receding gums. Two clinics asked to look at our reporter’s gums, but it’s impossible even for a dentistto detectproblems from a quick glance.
Two of the clinics said that impressions of teeth would be taken, which is considered a procedure that should be carried out only by a dentist and therefore illegal if carried out by an untrained person.
Side effects
Most clinics said side effects could include white spots on gums or lips where the bleaching agent leaks from a shield. The clinics suggested that these were a perfectly normal side effect but James said: ‘These are chemical burns and there shouldn’t be any. Peroxide should be nowhere near the lip.’
Half of the clinics we visited advertised ‘laser whitening’ and one even asked whether our reporter was allergic to lasers. Hew said: ‘These lasers are usually just blue lights and there’s little scientific evidence for their added benefit.’
Potential legal action
The GDC believes teeth whitening should be carried out only by a dentist under the Dentists Act and is keen to have its definition tested by successfully prosecuting someone who pleads not guilty to the offence. It is currently investigating 70 clinics.
Ben Nahab pleaded guilty at Norwich magistrates last year to carrying out a whitening procedure, after he burnt the gums of a dental nurse while demonstrating a product, causing serious side effects. He had claimed to be a dentist registered to work in the UK.
We don’t think you should have your teeth whitened by anyone other than a dentist. If treatment goes wrong, contact the GDC at information@gdc-uk.org or on 020 7887 3800.
12.11.2007. 14:42
Comments
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Home teeth whitening help? thanks x?
i want to have whiter teeth but cant afford to get it done professionally at the dentist
can you recommend any good products or tips for whiter teeth?
I already use sensodyne gentle whitening toothpaste but it doesn't do anything for me!
it sounds silly but my teeth look sooo disgustingly yellow compared with the whites of my eyes and when i wear certain lipsticks they look even worse :/
thank you everyone
xxx
products must be available in the UK preferably boots
thanks again xx
how long till you see results with baking soda? is it instantly different or does it take a long time?
xx
teeth whitening strips?
Has anyone tried these and do they work. Thanks
Teeth whitening question?
What is the best teeth whitening product you can buy on the high street or in supermarkets? Or would you advise me to get it done at a dentist? Because I've just had my brace off and they've stained quite a bit.
Thanks.
permanent teeth whitening solution?
when you go to the dentist and you ask them to whiten your yellow teeth, how long do the teeth stay white, is there a guarantee that they can turn your really yellow teeth white and is there a permanent method to whitening the teeth so you don't have to keep coming back. Is it true your teeth become sensitive and start to break up and get brittle after bleaching?
Question about teeth whitening and acid erosion?
i really want to get my teeth whitened professionally but i have some acid erosion on my front teeth (the tips of my teeth are transparent) and i'm wondering if they would be strong enough to tolerate whitening. obviously i will ask my dentist but has anyone here with the same problem had their teeth whitened? if so what how did it turn out for you?
would teeth whitening make my acne scars less noticable?
my confidence has went down considerably in the last couple of years due to having acne, and i have been on roaccutane for roughly 6-7 months. It has got better but i stil get a good few spots , i have been left with not pick scars but more like red marks i have been trying my hardest to fade them by using bio oil once a day for about 3 months and cocoa butter 2-3 times a day for roughly 6 months but not a great improvement as what i was expecting for the time period. So i was wondering if teeth whitening would help my appearance and make my scars less noticeable. reply asap help appreciated.
Polanight teeth whitening help needed please!?
I've been given Polanight 16% by my dentist who told me to use it overnight for 14 days. I have used it 6 times now and my teeth are now so sensitive I'm not sure whether to keep doing it. Also, only the bottom half of my teeth have changed colour, is this normal, will the whole of the tooth gradually change? Not sure if I'm using too much or too little gel, dentist was a bit vague! Any help or advice would be appreciated....
Long last teeth whitening?
I have tried whitening products in the past and they didn't work at all, total waste of money.
I also read online that sometimes when you spent like...$500 on laser whitening, it only lasts a couple of years even if you don't drink wine, coffee, tea...etc before your teeth start to stain again.
I was wondering if you know of any products/treatments that I can get which will actually whiten my teeth and make it last, I don't want to have to constantly use these products to ensure my teeth are white and obviously I can't make my teeth white any other way.
How long should i use pola night teeth whitening gel?
I bought the 16% gel (10 syringes) of the pola night teeth whitening gel from e-bay, they have arrived with no instructions. I used the gel before a few years ago via my dentist so i have the correct trays and everything but i can't remember how many nights i used it for.
What to do about saliva with teeth whitening trays?
Having purchased tooth whitening from my dentist for £250 I was given plastic trays to wear over night. These look like mouth guards. I was instructed to put a small blob of whitening gel from a syringe into the front of each tooth groove in the guard and then to leave them in over night. I've followed the instructions, however wearing the trays causes my mouth to fill with saliva and I'm worried that this is probably getting into the trays. Is this a normal problem? Will it effect the tooth whitening process? Can I swallow the saliva that builds up in my mouth whilst wearing the trays (I'm sure that I probably do automatically in my sleep!)
The tooth whitening gel I was given is called "dental white beauty" and is 16% strength but the box was given to me by the dentist without any instructions in.
Please help!
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