Smile Xpress Shepherds Bush Westfield Shopping Centre Teeth Whitening

EmmS_2

Hi,

I had teeth whitening done at Smile xpress - a booth within the Westfield Centre, Shepherd's Bush London. I was hestitant, but their logo seemed familiar and there were a lot of people queing to get this done so I agreed to pay the £20 deposit and then you have to pay £79 upfront before having it done. I didn't find the procedure painful but there is now a patch/line across my two front teeth with a colour mismatch.

This would not have been such a concern as she said this would fade, but looking at the leaflets they provided in closer detail shows that the company does not have a TM next to the logo, nor is [EMAIL="smileexpress@live.co.uk"]smileexpress@live.co.uk[/EMAIL] listed as a website and the numbers provided: 07534 939929 and 07932582642 just go to v/m - both are mobiles which rings alarm bells.

I have written to westfield shopping centre to question why a reputable shopping centre would allow a business to run illegally - if this is indeed the case.

Does anyone have any information on them, is it legal to advertise as a company but then not be listed and am I entitled to a refund?

SKH_3

I am a dentist who was interested to read your posting.
You may find it useful to read the General Dental Councils view on teeth whitening.

'Under the Dentists Act 1984, the practice of dentistry can only be legally undertaken by GDC registrants: dentists, or hygienist or therapists working to a dentist’s prescription. The GDC regards tooth whitening as the practice of dentistry and we advise any member of the public wanting tooth whitening to speak to their dentist.

The Council has been sent around six hundred complaints in the past three years about this treatment being carried out in salons and clinics by non-registrants and we are currently exploring different approaches to tackling the issue. The matter is, however, legally complicated and it will be many months before we are sure of the best way forward. When we have the answer, we will publicise it on our website and in the Dental Press. Until then we cannot take any formal action on general complaints about tooth whitening other than writing to the relevant salon giving our position.
The GDC will, of course, continue to investigate allegations of patient harm as a result of tooth whitening and, where we have enough evidence, we will proceed with prosecution. We will also take action against any of our registrants who are carrying out this procedure outside the GDC’s scope of practice guidance. If you have a complaint which involves:

documented evidence of patient harm
a patient who is, or may be, willing to co-operate with the GDC or
an allegation of registrant practice outside the scope of practice guidance
please call us on 0845 222 4141 or email us at illegalpractice@gdc-uk.org'

As I understand it from smile xpress it is not a dentist, hygienist or therapist who actually caries out the whitening procedures.

I hope this is of some help.

geordieracer

EmmS wrote: »

Hi,

I had teeth whitening done at Smile xpress - a booth within the Westfield Centre, Shepherd's Bush London. I was hestitant, but their logo seemed familiar and there were a lot of people queing to get this done so I agreed to pay the £20 deposit and then you have to pay £79 upfront before having it done. I didn't find the procedure painful but there is now a patch/line across my two front teeth with a colour mismatch.

This would not have been such a concern as she said this would fade, but looking at the leaflets they provided in closer detail shows that the company does not have a TM next to the logo, nor is [EMAIL="smileexpress@live.co.uk"]smileexpress@live.co.uk[/EMAIL] listed as a website and the numbers provided: 07534 939929 and 07932582642 just go to v/m - both are mobiles which rings alarm bells.

I have written to westfield shopping centre to question why a reputable shopping centre would allow a business to run illegally - if this is indeed the case.

Does anyone have any information on them, is it legal to advertise as a company but then not be listed and am I entitled to a refund?

Thats an email address not a website.. this is a website of sorts for a dentists but appears top eb based in nottigham http://www.yoursmileexpress.com/ there appears to be lots with similar names in different forms on google so try there to see if the logo matches one that you saw in the shopping centre,

I believe Westfield wouldve researched them a little to allow them to have a stall in their centre so maybe write to them and find out about them as they would have better contacts then you appear to have

BFG_2

Hey,

I'm a plumber...fancy letting me have a go at your heart bypass operation [it's all pipework, right??]

I'm a carpenter...I'll sort out your new hip for you.

Your teeth.......your choice who you let loose on them [with various unknown and dangerous chemicals as shown by BBC a few months ago wrt teeth whitening 'booths' or getting it done by hairdressers..!!

Q - How mad and stupid can people be???

A - Very

cherylc12

Hi Folks, Just to say I had my teeth whitened at the Smile Xpress kiosk at Westfield Shopping Centre... and had GREAT results in fact I went 7 shades lighter, I was chuffed to pieces and have recommended them to all my friends and collegues at work. In fact, I will be booking another session in a months time as there is a promotion they are running whereby if you have the first session at £99 then you have another session within the month at £59. I had no sensitivity at all and the technicians were fantastic and explained the whole procedure from start to finish and the do's and dont's, I read this blog before I went but my friend had her's done and she was really happy and told me to ignore this as she thought it was great... at £99. In fact, I feel the dentist here on the forum is somewhat biased as I have enquired at my dental clinic and they charge £399 for their procedures... what a rip off!! The techician advised me that they are not dentists nor do they pretend to be, and in fact the procedure 'Cosmetic' not dental. I have looked into this GDC statement as I was a bit concerned, and I seen that the GDC denotes 'in their opinion they believe, , which is not the same as what is in the EU directive that it is regarded as a cosmetic procedure. But, forget about the legal ramblings if you want whiter teeth then in my opinion it is well worth the £99... by the way the company do have a website which is on their leaflets I was told they will be selling maintenance products from it soon as it has just been launched along with an 0844 number on it. In response to the lady in the original post can I just say as with all cosmetic procedures results do vary, my friend went only 4 shades but she was still happy as they made a difference. Anyhow, lets just say there's no pleasing everyone... I would have hated to pay £399 and been disappointed.

Freddie_Snowbits

Hang on, teeth are ivory coloured are they not.

Oooops I suspect a chorus coming on.

:spam::spam::spam::spam::spam::spam::spam::spam::spam:

dmg24

Yep, cherylc12 (or an AE of hers) had posts removed the other day!

rl290

cherylc12... one post wonder. I assume you work for them.

Toothsmith

cherylc12 wrote: »

= In fact, I feel the dentist here on the forum is somewhat biased as I have enquired at my dental clinic and they charge £399 for their procedures... what a rip off!!

Which dentist on here have you seen promote their particular practice? Or even post in their own name?

The dentists who post on here do so in order to give people the best, and safest possible advice - not like the rather dubious single-posters who come on recommending a particular place or service.

THAT is biased!

cherylc12 wrote: »

The techician advised me that they are not dentists nor do they pretend to be, and in fact the procedure 'Cosmetic' not dental. I have looked into this GDC statement as I was a bit concerned, and I seen that the GDC denotes 'in their opinion they believe, , which is not the same as what is in the EU directive that it is regarded as a cosmetic procedure.

Not everbody is suitable for whitening. There are some conditions that whitening would be very bad for.

To identify those, you need to be able to DIAGNOSE. To be able to diagnose - first of all, you need to have a good LOOK.

But most importantly - you need TRAINING. And more training than you get at your average beauty salon Saturday course.

THIS IS MEDICAL - NOT COSMETIC. Whatever the EU directive says. It might have escaped your attention, but not all EU directives are sensible.

cherylc12 wrote: »

= But, forget about the legal ramblings

Bad for business are they??

Kool_Kool

I would never have my teeth looked at never mind touched without my dentist's advice and approval, these fads for teeth whiter than they are meant to be and faces smoother than there age means you always find those ready to make a pile and those ready to pay it.

Fuzzybear1976

I can understand a dentist being pee'd off at having a large chunk of their income sliced by a non-dentist doing teeth whitening but hey - that's life and if this company are working within the law (and I believe the law is the same for dentist and non-dentist for cosmetic teeth whitening) then good luck to them. However, I think it would be sensible to see one's own dentist for a check up before having them whitened elsewhere - then what's the prob. After all, plenty of dentists are now doing other things like botox and tattoo removal so why should they expect to keep teeth whitening for themselves?