BROMLEY, UK: When beauty therapist Caroline Sumpter from Bromley bought a Megawhite Teeth Whitening Licence from Dentawhite in Glasgow, she was not aware that she was doing something illegal. When she found out, she immediately requested a refund from the company, which she was denied. Last week, the County Court ruled in her favour, reaffirming the law that only registered dentists are permitted to provide teeth whitening.
In their decision, the court agreed with Sumpter’s assertion that she had been sold the licence under the false pretences of not having to be a dentist to carry out the procedure.
Based in Glasgow, Dentawhite sells what it calls advanced laser teeth whitening, a procedure that the company claims is not a dental procedure, as it can be self-administered by customers at home.
The court's verdict could mean an end to so-called whitening technicians seeking to exploit such loopholes in the current law, Dr Nigel Carter, OBE, Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said.
He called on the General Dental Council to immediately act against such practices.
“It should not be left to individuals like Ms Sumpter to highlight the illegality of tooth-whitening decisions,” remarked Carter on the case.
The General Dental Council has investigated several individuals for violating the rules since the High Court decided last year that it is illegal for non-dentists to provide tooth-whitening. Just last week, a hygienist from Dundee was prosecuted by the organisation for having carried out such procedures without a valid licence.
“If you are providing dentistry services, you must make sure you have the proper commercial contracts and regulations in place," Dental specialist lawyer Amanda Maskery, a Partner at Newcastle law firm Sintons and Chair of the Association of Specialist Providers to Dentists (ASPD), commented. "If and when in doubt, consult a legal professional to ensure you remain on the right side of the law.”
According to the Dentists Act 1984, only registered dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists and clinical dental technicians (working to the prescription of a dentist) are allowed to carry out tooth whitening with products containing or releasing between 0.1 and 6 per cent hydrogen peroxide.
RUGBY – Tooth whitening is becoming increasingly popular. Last week, UK health authorities voiced concerns about illegal and potentially harmful ...
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, UK: After admitting to eight counts of voyeurism, dentist David Stocks from Stocksfield in Northumberland was released on unconditional...
NEWPORT, UK: The UK regulator of dental practice, the General Dental Council (GDC), has prosecuted an illegal tooth-whitening training provider for the ...
LONDON, UK: Several of the UK’s largest tooth whitening companies have come together for the holiday season in support of a campaign titled, “White ...
Enlighten Smiles is one of the UK’s most trusted tooth whitening brands. With guaranteed results and a strong marketing system, as well as its own ...
LONDON, UK: Medicine and dentistry appear to be the only two professions in which graduates in the UK are currently able to cover their student debt. ...
While teeth whitening may leave you with a pearly white smile, the recent prosecution of an unregulated practitioner has shown that it remains a grey area ...
LONDON, UK: Together with dental caries and periodontal disease, dental erosion ranks among the top three most prevalent dental conditions. According to a ...
LONDON, UK: In recent years, tooth whitening has become an increasingly common form of aesthetic dental treatment. Though its provision is legally limited ...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Children in Ireland have their first dental visit some years too late. The average age from which they are screened under the current ...
Live webinar
Thu. 11 September 2025
6:00 pm UTC (London)
Live webinar
Mon. 15 September 2025
6:00 pm UTC (London)
Prof. Dr. med. dent. Stefan Wolfart
Live webinar
Tue. 16 September 2025
4:00 pm UTC (London)
Prof. Dr. Dr. Florian Guy Draenert
Live webinar
Tue. 16 September 2025
5:30 pm UTC (London)
Dr. Kay Vietor, Birgit Sayn
Live webinar
Tue. 16 September 2025
6:00 pm UTC (London)
Dr. Paweł Aleksandrowicz PhD
Live webinar
Wed. 17 September 2025
1:00 am UTC (London)
International / International
Brazil / Brasil
Canada / Canada
Latin America / Latinoamérica
USA / USA
Austria / Österreich
Bosnia and Herzegovina / Босна и Херцеговина
Bulgaria / България
Croatia / Hrvatska
Czech Republic & Slovakia / Česká republika & Slovensko
France / France
Germany / Deutschland
Greece / ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
Hungary / Hungary
Italy / Italia
Netherlands / Nederland
Nordic / Nordic
Poland / Polska
Portugal / Portugal
Romania & Moldova / România & Moldova
Slovenia / Slovenija
Serbia & Montenegro / Србија и Црна Гора
Spain / España
Switzerland / Schweiz
Turkey / Türkiye
China / 中国
India / भारत गणराज्य
Japan / 日本
Pakistan / Pākistān
Vietnam / Việt Nam
ASEAN / ASEAN
Israel / מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל
Algeria, Morocco & Tunisia / الجزائر والمغرب وتونس
Middle East / Middle East
Dr. Jenny Apekian DDSRegister now1CELive webinar
Prof. Dr. med. dent. Stefan WolfartRegister now1CELive webinar
Dr. Paweł Aleksandrowicz PhDRegister now1CELive webinar
Dr. Ashton Prince DMDRegister now1CE:sharpen(level=0):output(format=png)/up/dt/2022/01/Ivoclar_Logo_19-01-2022.png "Ivoclar")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/05/Myobrace-System.jpg "Myobrace, Myoretainr and Myosa: Innovative myofunctional treatment systems")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/09/UK-dentists-back-energy-drink-ban-for-under-16s.jpg "UK dentists back energy drink ban for under-16s")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/09/General-Dental-Council-publishes-assessment-on-use-of-AI-in-dentistry.jpg "General Dental Council publishes assessment on use of AI in dentistry")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/08/Kings-College-London-hosts-first-UK-edition-of-Ivoclar-Summer-School_1.jpg "King’s College London hosts first UK edition of Ivoclar Summer School")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/08/Hair-derived-keratin-toothpaste-A-natural-enamel-repair-revolution.jpg "Hair-derived keratin toothpaste: A natural enamel repair revolution")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/07/3dprinting.jpg "3D printing")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/07/aligners.jpg "aligners")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2022/01/Ivoclar_Logo_19-01-2022.png "Ivoclar"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2014/02/Du%CC%88rr_Dental.png "Dürr Dental")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2022/05/osstem_logo.png "Osstem Implant"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2024/05/Curaden_Logo_RGB1.png "Curaden"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2010/02/logo-3DISC-et-baseline-fond-blanc.jpg "3DISC"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2014/02/FKG.png "FKG Dentaire")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/e-papers/341961/1.jpg "DT UK & Ireland No. 2, 2024")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/e-papers/336495/1.jpg "DT UK & Ireland No. 1, 2024")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/e-papers/332768/1.jpg "DT UK & Ireland No. 4, 2023")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/e-papers/328090/1.jpg "Dental Tribune UK No. 3, 2023")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/e-papers/324687/1.jpg "Dental Tribune UK No. 2, 2023")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/e-papers/321656/1.jpg "Dental Tribune UK No. 1, 2023")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2017/01/7d2b842d200fbe0196f190200f9ccc71.jpg "Non-dentists may not perform tooth whitening, County Court rules")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/05/Myobrace-System.jpg "Myobrace, Myoretainr and Myosa: Innovative myofunctional treatment systems")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/wp-content/themes/dt/images/dt-user.gif "Dental Tribune International")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2017/01/b2ff130c4076158c57da2e0f96856119.jpg "One in four patients would skip dentist for tooth whitening")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2015/01/7e9f6983349a29ca39ad158e69eb6911.jpg "Voyeur dentist released by Newcastle court")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2017/01/fc4f26368e068662b3511b3e2fd92522.jpg "Man fined £11,500 for providing illegal tooth whitening and training")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2018/12/white-christmas.jpg "Tooth whitening companies team up for charity")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2017/01/a9305abd4945e5f0b450a30470f5a06e.jpg "Interview: “Make everything about tooth whitening predictable”")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2017/01/497c4bfbf4d4ee2184dd549593cd88c4.jpg "Graduate premiums do not pay off debt, except for dentists and doctors")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2021/08/placeholder.jpg "Tooth whitening: A high price for being unaware")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2018/02/shutterstock_2081592701.jpg "Diet not solely to blame for tooth erosion")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2020/02/shutterstock_1450907246.jpg "General Dental Council figures show illegal tooth whitening procedures on the rise")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2017/01/d0c1822a9f84894982fd2a79d58f3f03.jpg "Irish children do not see dentist before entering school")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/05/Myobrace-System.jpg "Myobrace, Myoretainr and Myosa: Innovative myofunctional treatment systems")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/09/UK-dentists-back-energy-drink-ban-for-under-16s.jpg "UK dentists back energy drink ban for under-16s")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=webp)/up/dt/2025/09/General-Dental-Council-publishes-assessment-on-use-of-AI-in-dentistry.jpg "General Dental Council publishes assessment on use of AI in dentistry")
To post a reply please login or register