Laser Teeth Whitening

[beebeehair]

Hi, I've seen a few forums about this subject but it's still bringing no clairity. About 6 months ago I paid a lot of money to become a qualified and insured laser teeth whitening technician. I had been offering this service in salon with insurance and certificate in place when I was visited by trading standards claiming that it was illegal for any beautician to offer this treatment and you have to be a dentist or dental professional. I have since stopped practicing this as I could face prosecution personally! When phoning the GDC they agree with the above and tell me it is completely illegal and beauticians are being prosecuted. But yet there are numerous salons and mobile techs offering this treatments all over my area. I also hear this will be at the professional beauty show? Can anyone shed some light on this matter as I feel like I'm being victimized and hitting a brick wall!

 

[J33XSS]

Hi, I've seen a few forums about this subject but it's still bringing no clairity. About 6 months ago I paid a lot of money to become a qualified and insured laser teeth whitening technician. I had been offering this service in salon with insurance and certificate in place when I was visited by trading standards claiming that it was illegal for any beautician to offer this treatment and you have to be a dentist or dental professional. I have since stopped practicing this as I could face prosecution personally! When phoning the GDC they agree with the above and tell me it is completely illegal and beauticians are being prosecuted. But yet there are numerous salons and mobile techs offering this treatments all over my area. I also hear this will be at the professional beauty show? Can anyone shed some light on this matter as I feel like I'm being victimized and hitting a brick wall!

As long as you're using a non-peroxide whitening gel and have had training & got insurance then you're fine. I had trading standards visit me and tell me the exact same thing - they took some of my whitening gel away to be tested to check it's below 0.1% peroxide which it is x

 

[beebeehair]

Hi, I had training, got insurance, certificate, kit, but apparently it's not worth the paper it's written on. The GDC inform me teeth whitening it illegal for anyone other than a dentist?

 

[J33XSS]

Hi, I had training, got insurance, certificate, kit, but apparently it's not worth the paper it's written on. The GDC inform me teeth whitening it illegal for anyone other than a dentist?

The GDC will tell you that because they're trying to help dentists get all the trade back. Maybe is down to local trading standards what they will allow, but the ladies from trading standards that came to visit me on Friday said as long as it's less than 0.1% peroxide then it's fine. I provided them with the details of the company I purchase the gel through, and the MSDS sheets for the whitening gel x

 

[Bonkers]

I really doubt the dentist are doing it to get all the trade back I think it's more to the fact you are potentially damaging people's teeth and gums. They train for years and specialise in what they do so why would it be ok to do a day course and trot off whitening people's teeth and damaging their gums. Every day I hear numerous ads on the radio of have you been injured having teeth whitening treatments etc why put yourself into the position. I can't wait til it's completely illegal. Far too many "teeth whitening specialists" around

 

[bio sculp tech]

Hey, ive been onto this today as i am too a salon owner, who went to the beauty show this weekend at manchester and was amazed at how many teeth whitening companies were there and how busy they were (11 in total i think). I came straight home and got on the case because what i couldnt understand was some of these companies were there last year and if this was so so so illegal how could they still be trading a year later and at the show again... today i contacted the GDC who wouldn't explain about the 0.1% peroxide they just kept repeating this is illegal and only dentists etc can perform teeth whitening as this is classed as practising dentistry. I mentioned this to a select few of the companies at the beauty show as i knew this previous to the beauty show and they stated that at no point does the beauty therapist physically enter or make contact with the clients mouth/teeth. The client does everything themselves which means no dentistry is performed. When i explained this to the GDC they then said you are advising someone to put something in there mouth you are not a dentist you are practising dentistry. I asked them if i was to train and i was to let them know i was performing teeth whitening within my salon what would happen? they then said a member of the public would have to make a complaint to trading standards???? I have also spoke to liz ridley today the owner of pearlys teeth whitening who is a very successful woman who was also at the manchester beauty show and offering training etc with the correct eu certificates. In fact she is that successful she has never been prosecuted and has recently opened up the teeth whitening bar in harvey nichols. If it was so illegal wouldnt they be one of the first to refuse or be prosecuted? She said she has contacted the GDC herself and informed them of new and upcoming products etc she will be producing which sell in places such as boots and she has never been prosecuted. I am really confused and cannot understand this as there is so much on the internet about it being illegal and yet companies/therapists are still performing this i do want to offer this fab treatment but want to make sure i am within the correct law???

 

[weenetty]

Hi everyone, my hubby is a dentist and I can say that it is illegal when over a certain amount of peroxide as it is now classed as a prescription and therefore you need the prescription to buy the amount that dentists use. I can say from experience that laser teeth whitening can be very painful in the wrong hands I have had my husband do it to me and a small amount leaked onto my gum line, holy Jeso it was agony.

I can also honestly say I got better results from using my trays (made by dentist) it took longer to get whiter but the effects lasted a lot longer with no touch ups inbetween and far less painful (although everyone is different and everything tooth is different) the laser wore off quicker and didn't whiten them as much. Also I have quite a low gumline on some of my teeth so you have to be extra careful where the gel is applied. Just like any skills, it takes practice and knowledge and also being able to identify possible nasties in someone's mouth.

People also have false expectations thinking they will go simon cowel white, yes you can go very white, due to the tooth being very dehydrated, but then that fades quite quickly and they just look brighter. You also need to seriously rehydrate the teeth after using tooth mouse (tastes yummy!) now where are my trays!

 

[fuzzyduck]

Hi All
This really is quite a grey area. As a previous poster stated it isnt so much the solution that is the issue. The only person that can legally put there hands inside anothers mouth is a qualified dentists/nurse.
As you probably witnessed at the show the numerous "Teeth Whitening" companies get around this by getting the client to put the solution/product in to their own mouth. Not unlawful just a way of getting around the legislation.
I had my teeth whitened by a dentist in 2002 it cost me £600 at the time.The peroxide leaked and blistered my gums very painful. High levels of Hydrogen Peroxide were used and I if I remember correctly there was many problems and for a while all teeth whitening was banned even for dentists.
I am a beauty therapist and in 2000 trained to perform Sclerotherapy which I did successfully for many years until the recent changes in legislation on "remote prescribing". I can know longer do this treatment.
I use Emla cream (prescription topical anesthetic cream) regularly in my treatments
for similar legislation as the teeth whitening I had to get the client to
apply this cream themselves. This cream can now be bought over the counter in a pharmacy!
I would go back to the company you bought the products from if they are a decent company they should be up to date with any new legislation and advise accordingly.
Good Luck:lol:

 

[fuzzyduck]

Hi All
This really is quite a grey area. As a previous poster stated it isnt so much the solution that is the issue. The only person that can legally put there hands inside anothers mouth is a qualified dentists/nurse.
As you probably witnessed at the show the numerous "Teeth Whitening" companies get around this by getting the client to put the solution/product in to their own mouth. Not unlawful just a way of getting around the legislation.
I had my teeth whitened by a dentist in 2002 it cost me £600 at the time.The peroxide leaked and blistered my gums very painful. High levels of Hydrogen Peroxide were used and I if I remember correctly there was many problems and for a while all teeth whitening was banned even for dentists.
I am a beauty therapist and in 2000 trained to perform Sclerotherapy which I did successfully for many years until the recent changes in legislation on "remote prescribing". I can know longer do this treatment.
I use Emla cream (prescription topical anesthetic cream) regularly in my treatments
for similar legislation as the teeth whitening I had to get the client to
apply this cream themselves. This cream can now be bought over the counter in a pharmacy!
I would go back to the company you bought the products from if they are a decent company they should be up to date with any new legislation and advise accordingly.
Good Luck:lol:

 

[fuzzyduck]

Beebeehair

It is the GDC that is doing all the scaremongering here.
Read the European Union Directive 2011/884/EU
They make the laws not the GDC
The European Commission changed the law in 2001 that "teeth whitening" could become a "cosmetic treatment".
The law was changed recently on not the proceedure but the hydrogen peroxide content.
Google DPL teeth whitening also gives all the legal papers!
Hope this helps. I dont think all trading standard officers understand the law on this! Understand the law and get all your ducks in a row so perhaps you can educate them!!