The UK’s dental regulator, the General Dental Council, has issued a warning against individuals and clinics and practices that offer whitening treatments. According to the GDC, only trained dental professionals should be able to offer this service.
Tooth whitening has become very popular in recent years and the number of clinics and practices and individuals offering the service has increased rapidly. However, there is currently no law preventing untrained people from providing the service, and as a result, the GDC feels that the public is at risk. According to representatives from the GDC, tooth whitening is a dental procedure and should therefore only be offered by dental professionals who are registered with the GDC.
Evlynne Gilvarry, Chief Executive and Registrar at the GDC, stated that tooth whitening is no “trivial matter” and claimed there is a real risk of harm to the public if untrained professionals continue to offer whitening treatments. Tooth whitening is considered a very safe treatment when carried out by a trained professional, but there are risks associated with the procedure and for this reason, the GDC feels that it is irresponsible for the service to be unregulated.
The GDC’s wishes are also supported by the public, and in a poll commissioned by the council last year, 86 per cent of participants said that they agreed that tooth whitening should only be offered by trained, registered professionals.
I am renting a room in my chiropody surgery and have received an enquiry from someone interested in teeth whitening. What qualifications does she need? I would be grateful if you could let me know.
Thanks,
Suzanne
