Advice on Teeth Whitening Discussion Thread

moneylover

moneylover wrote: »

If you have chair whitening, and your mouth is kept open with gum shields etc, can you swallow? I always feel such a fool at the hygienist, she keeps having to stop as I want to swallow - I guess its nerves and I am sure that the whitening would be worse...

could one of the dentists just answer this for me please- or someone who has had the process? Thank you.

I am def having one system or the other or a combinaton of both chair/home in the next month or two so will write it up afterwards.

welshdent

yep you can swallow. However I dont know how comfortable it is for you as I dont do chairside whitening. I find the custom tray approach works well and is well tollerated. Its just a little slower but I dont consider that a bad thing

moneylover

thanks Welshdent! If I go for trays, and work hard at it, is the end result likelyto be as good as chairside plus trays which is what I was offered (Enlighten)

j.e.j.

There was an interesting item on the radio this lunchtime about teeth whitening:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nl7wq

Just thought I'd put a linkie up in case anyone is interested. The item starts at about 34mins40 into the programme.

Toothsmith

j.e.j. wrote: »

There was an interesting item on the radio this lunchtime about teeth whitening:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nl7wq

Just thought I'd put a linkie up in case anyone is interested. The item starts at about 34mins40 into the programme.

The law on tooth whitening actually changed today.

It should make it harder for the illegals (non-dentist) whiteners, as it makes the supply of the gels an offence for non-dentists.

j.e.j.

I must admit, as a layperson I found some of the detail a bit confusing. The new law says only dentists can use some whiteners, but the reporter then went on to say in the intro that salons use a different process and that they dispute that it's illegal.

The main message that came across was to be very careful of who you get to do your teeth whitening. I think it said salons charge about £100, and dentists about £300 for the procedure, but is the saving worth the potential risk?

I felt a bit sorry for the guy who'd bought himself a tooth-whitening kit on the internet and ended up with partly-whitened teeth, and health problems that kept him off work for 2 days:eek:!

It's an interesting item, maybe worth a listen for anyone thinking of getting it done.

moneylover

Hello
I have differed for ages as such a wuss about discomfort and sensitivity. However I have finally settled on Enlighten with my own dentist who I know and trust. It will be a mixture of tray and chairside
Enlighten guarantee 6 shades lighter but my dentist talks this down. I am way off the wrong side of the scale! Not through a lot of coffee drinking etc, its just my teeth and the way they are disposed. They look as though they have been in my mouth a hundred years old (am 66). I cannot wear lipstick or white shirts as both show up how bad they are.
Will report on how I get on.
It costs £500. Perhaps I could have got it cheaper but after a lot of thought decided I wanted my own dentist surgery just up the road. If I have problems they will follow up for me and the stress will be less.
So far I have paid £100 and had the mould done - it will take two weeks for the inserts to be made. That stage was no problem just nasty taste and a small gag reflex when the lower mould was taken out. I have a small mouth and very crowded teeth.
I then use the gel which will be provided for two weeks /8 hours daily then have chairside appt. I am going to get gel etc and be instructed on use on 3 Dec so will report further then.
Hilary

pricetag

Try to search on youtube. There are lots of tutorials there.

moneylover

tutorials on?

Toothsmith

Just thought I'd resurrect this thread to let people know that Pearl National have now been successfully prosecuted by the General Dental Council. (Ad at prosecution, they also found that the 'Company' had not ben filing proper tax returns either!)

The General Dental Council (GDC) has successfully prosecuted Pearl Teeth Whitening Limited – trading as Pearl National – for illegally carrying on the business of dentistry. On Friday 23 November 2012 a representative of the company pleaded guilty at Doncaster Magistrates’ Court. The court has fined the firm £3,500 and ordered them to pay £4,000 towards the GDC costs.

The Company was charged under section 43 of the Dentists’ Act 1984, which states: “A body corporate commits an offence if it carries on the business of dentistry at a time when a majority of its directors are not persons who are either registered dentists or registered dental care professionals.”

It was alleged that Pearl Teeth Whitening Limited (trading as Pearl National), did unlawfully carry on the business of dentistry at various locations in England and Wales between the 17 January 2011 and the 15 May 2012 at a time when a majority of its directors were not and are not persons who are either registered dentists or registered dental care professionals This is Contrary to Section 43 (1) and (3) of the Dentists Act 1984.

During sentencing, District Judge Bennett said: “It is clear from their website that Pearl National operated from a large number of locations and from the facts of the case presented to me, that they employed unqualified people to provide teeth whitening to their customers.”

He added that it occurred to him that the company “must have received a lot of money and had never filed accounts at Companies House.”

If you would like to report someone you believe to be practising illegally you can do so by sending an email to illegalpractice@gdc-uk.org, or by calling 0845 222 4141.

Please - could anyone knowing of any non-dentist whitening outfit PLEASE report them to the GDC. At last, they are beginning to get to grips with the problem of the illegal whiteners.