A young clinic owner put clients at risk by carrying out potentially “dangerous” teeth whitening procedures without proper qualifications, a court heard.
She offered specialist treatment using hydrogen peroxide gel as part of a series of beauty regimes at her clinic. The beauty therapist even offered to fix an undercover inspector’s cracked tooth when they visited the clinic following fears for patient safety.
Now, the 20-year-old has been handed a conditional discharge by magistrates after admitting to unlawfully practicing dentistry.
If you are looking for teeth whitening services, forget about visiting a kiosk or a beautician to get a pearly white smile.
Legislation introduced on 31 October, 2012, has seen teeth whitening restricted to being offered by qualified dentists only.
So what’s changed, and what does it mean for the people of the UK? Petitions from the UK Government would suggest that illegal teeth whitening is a hot issue.
What Does the Legislation Say About Teeth Whitening?
The legislation means teeth whitening products which contain or release between 0.1 and six percent hydrogen peroxide cannot be sold to anyone outside the dental profession. Teeth whitening products containing or releasing more than this are not to be used in the United Kingdom at all.
A qualified dentist must perform an initial clinical examination to determine whether the patient is a suitable candidate for the cosmetic procedure. They must also perform the first treatment or supervise another qualified dental professional to do so. After this first appointment, the dentist can dispense the tooth whitener to their patient for at-home use.
The teeth whitening procedures outlined by the legislation can only be performed on adults aged 18 years or over. Younger patients may have their teeth enhanced using a very mild tooth whitener with less than 0.1 percent of hydrogen peroxide.
The new legislation sees the United Kingdom operating in accordance with the rest of the European Union. The General Dental Council and local trading standards officers plan to close down and prosecute any businesses found to be offering teeth whitening illegally.
If, and when, anyone offers you teeth whitening services that fall outside of these legislative rules, you are bound by law to report them.
But, instead of going through all that trouble, rather contact Dental Health for Life (click here) and we’ll make sure you get that white smile you have always dreamt of.
