DT News - UK - Tooth whitening: A high price for being unaware

Amanda Maskery, UK

Tue. 31 March 2015

save

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 for some. The case of the owner of a tanning salon in Hartlepool, England, appearing in court for selling teeth whitening products has served a timely reminder that while it is a cosmetic procedure, it is one that must only be provided by a regulated dental professional.

The salon owner admitted carrying out unregistered dentistry, even though he did not actually administer any treatment and instead sold an over-the-counter treatment to a customer, believing that he would not be infringing any guidelines by doing so.

But the General Dental Council (GDC) is very clear in its stance – teeth whitening is a form of dentistry, therefore must be performed by a dentist or dental professional who is registered with the GDC.

If you are not registered with the GDC, you cannot carry out teeth whitening. To do so is illegal, and could lead in prosecution, as the recent conviction at Teesside Magistrates Court has shown. The tanning salon owner received a two-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £1,000 towards the GDC’s costs – a high price to pay for being unaware of the implications of selling a cosmetic service.

At Sintons, we are one of the leading specialist dental legal advisers in the UK, acting for dentists in our native North East and far beyond. We work extensively in compliance and regulatory issues, and can help with GDC registration.

In a changing sector, we work closely with our dental clients to make sure they keep abreast of guidelines and legal obligations.

To post a reply please login or register

Tooth whitening companies team up for charity

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 ...

One in four patients would skip dentist for tooth whitening

RUGBY – Tooth whitening is becoming increasingly popular. Last week, UK health authorities voiced concerns about illegal and potentially harmful ...

Man fined £11,500 for providing illegal tooth whitening and training

NEWPORT, UK: The UK regulator of dental practice, the General Dental Council (GDC), has prosecuted an illegal tooth-whitening training provider for the ...

Interview: “Make everything about tooth whitening predictable”

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 ...

Quest for tooth whitening: Study reports extensive damage to dental cells by carbamide peroxide

TORONTO, Canada/LONDON, UK: As the quest for having whiter teeth continues, it is crucial to fully understand the extent of damage that tooth-whitening ...

Post-hygiene whitening for everyone

It is often amazing to see how a slightly different shade of colour can brighten up a smile and the entire countenance of patients who decide to undergo ...

Non-dentists may not perform tooth whitening, County Court rules

BROMLEY, UK: When beauty therapist Caroline Sumpter from Bromley bought a Megawhite Teeth Whitening Licence from Dentawhite in Glasgow, she was not aware ...

General Dental Council figures show illegal tooth whitening procedures on the rise

LONDON, UK: In recent years, tooth whitening has become an increasingly common form of aesthetic dental treatment. Though its provision is legally limited ...

Webinar introduces tooth straightening method for GDPs

LEIPZIG, Germany: Did you know that 75 per cent of your patients could benefit from a smile improvement? A new webinar, presented by the Dental Tribune ...

Scotland’s poorest paying the price for dental crisis, says British Dental Association

EDINBURGH, Scotland: Fresh statistics from Public Health Scotland have revealed widening oral healthcare inequities in Scotland, and the British Dental ...

Education

Live webinar
Fri. 19 July 2024
1:00 am UTC (London)