Advice on Teeth Whitening Discussion Thread

brook2jack

To clarify trading standards prosecute over illegal whitening products, the GDC prosecute people who illegally practice dentistry by assessing as suitable or providing tooth whitening.

For trading standards contact your local TS not the one nearest the supplier. Phone number is normally on local council website.

sovus

But there are working Home Bleaching Products? Found this german site which tests some of these: bleaching-test.com . What do you think of this one?

brook2jack

Most of the products mentioned for home use are illegal in Germany, the UK and the EU.

CLARE

Hi, I'm looking for some advice (wish I'd seen this thread beforehand!)....

On Friday 15th Feb, 2013 me and my hubby went to a 'salon' for laser tooth whitening following recommendation from numerous people.
I'm petrified of the dentist's so specifically asked the lady doing the procedure if it would hurt and if it was damaging to teeth, to which she replied 'no and no' :cool:

We had 3 x 15 min blasts under the laser, the 2nd being extremely painful but we managed to persevere with the pain. The after pains that followed were horrific! Totally excruciating ! These lasted a good 6 hours, and painkillers didn't have any effect. We finally managed to fall asleep in the early hours after hours of rolling around in sheer torturous pain.:eek:
The following day I was unable to brush my teeth without pain around the gums, where they'd whitened during treatment. A week on and I have just switched back from using a baby toothbrush for a week!
Both of us feel they are getting better each day but feel they are more sensitive than before. My hubby still feels pain when eating and drinking and I do when eating hard foods.

I have messaged the lady numerous times keeping her informed of our hell and last night she offered us £40 back, out of the £120.. I obviously turned this down but apparently I'm being unreasonable

Anyone thinking of laser whitening please be aware that there is a potential risk of severe agonising pain following the procedure.

I've since heard that if they're not on the dental register then this treatment is illegal, but is it? She claims no peroxide was used......

welshdent

Report her to the gdc. What she has done to you is illegal and she can be prosecuted for illegally carrying out dentistry. They lie to you when they say they are not doing anything wrong. I warn every single patient that has whitening from me that there is a risk of discomfort and sensitivity.

Look at this page - there is a section to report illegal practice at the bottom.
http://www.gdc-uk.org/Membersofpublic/Illegalpractice/Pages/default.aspx

You will carry even more weight as you have pain. GO to see a dentist who can document and diagnose any problems you have.

Toothsmith

CLARE wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking for some advice (wish I'd seen this thread beforehand!)....

On Friday 15th Feb, 2013 me and my hubby went to a 'salon' for laser tooth whitening following recommendation from numerous people.
I'm petrified of the dentist's so specifically asked the lady doing the procedure if it would hurt and if it was damaging to teeth, to which she replied 'no and no' :cool:

We had 3 x 15 min blasts under the laser, the 2nd being extremely painful but we managed to persevere with the pain. The after pains that followed were horrific! Totally excruciating ! These lasted a good 6 hours, and painkillers didn't have any effect. We finally managed to fall asleep in the early hours after hours of rolling around in sheer torturous pain.:eek:
The following day I was unable to brush my teeth without pain around the gums, where they'd whitened during treatment. A week on and I have just switched back from using a baby toothbrush for a week!
Both of us feel they are getting better each day but feel they are more sensitive than before. My hubby still feels pain when eating and drinking and I do when eating hard foods.

I have messaged the lady numerous times keeping her informed of our hell and last night she offered us £40 back, out of the £120.. I obviously turned this down but apparently I'm being unreasonable

Anyone thinking of laser whitening please be aware that there is a potential risk of severe agonising pain following the procedure.

I've since heard that if they're not on the dental register then this treatment is illegal, but is it? She claims no peroxide was used......

Please can you get in touch with the GDC on the email address I posted a couple of posts up and report this place to them?

This is exactly the sort of thing they NEED members of the public, who have been harmed by these untrained idiots to do.

It is hard for them to act if a dentist just complains to them about someone operating in their area. But an actual member of the public who has been treated, and harmed, is a prime witness for them.

Please get in touch with the GDC and help close this place down. The more places that are successfully prosecuted, the more the public and the beauticians will get the message that this procedure IS potentially harmful, and should only be done by properly qualified DENTISTS with correct chemicals used appropriately.

Oh - and yes it is illegal whatever chemical is used. If the beautician is using ANY chemical within the mouth, it is 'the practice of dentistry' and you need to be a registered dentist, or a registered dental assistant working to the prescription of a dentist to do that.

There are rules as well about peroxide use, and who can and can't use peroxide, but this is a red herring when it comes to non-dental registrants carrying out the process. That is just illegal full stop, despite what they try to get the public to believe.

Toothsmith

There is a really good Facebook page recently started to highlight the problems of illegal tooth whitening.

http://m.facebook.com/StampOutIllegalToothWhitening?id=592837014076636&_rdr

CLARE

Toothsmith wrote: »

There is a really good Facebook page recently started to highlight the problems of illegal tooth whitening.

I've seen that page, but there's also one that fights the other way!
'Platform for Justice in Teeth Whitening'
I just find it so confusing to find out what is the truth... is it dentistry and illegal unless on the GDC register or is it cosmetic. I know the ruling changed in Oct 2012.

Toothsmith

CLARE wrote: »

I've seen that page, but there's also one that fights the other way!
'Platform for Justice in Teeth Whitening'
I just find it so confusing to find out what is the truth... is it dentistry and illegal unless on the GDC register or is it cosmetic. I know the ruling changed in Oct 2012.

Indeed there is. Their grasp of the facts is about as creative as their spelling on the site!

brook2jack

CLARE wrote: »

I've seen that page, but there's also one that fights the other way!
'Platform for Justice in Teeth Whitening'
I just find it so confusing to find out what is the truth... is it dentistry and illegal unless on the GDC register or is it cosmetic. I know the ruling changed in Oct 2012.

The ruling didn't change in October, just a different law on chemicals changed. It has always been illegal to assess someone as fit for tooth whitening or whiten teeth http://www.gdc-uk.org/Membersofpublic/Illegalpractice/Pages/Tooth-whitening.aspx

The GDC is in charge of protecting people against the illegal practice of dentistry like this and has prosecuted both companies http://www.gdc-uk.org/Newsandpublications/Pressreleases/Pages/GDC-successfully-prosecutes-tooth-whitening-company.aspx

And individuals http://www.gdc-uk.org/Newsandpublications/Pressreleases/Pages/Court-imposes-fine-for-illegal-tooth-whitening-.aspx


I would urge you to do two things..... protect other innocent members of the public from possibly permanent harm to their oral or general health, health and get a recommendation for a dentist who is good with nervous patients so you never put your health at risk again by avoiding the dentist and they can check you have no permanent damage.