Teeth whitening, is it legal for a non dental professional?

[becky30]

I have been considering doing a tooth whitening course for some time, i know there are lots of threads on here about it but i just want to know if its legal and can insurance be obtained.
i emailed someone at ritesmile.co.uk with all my questions, this was my email:
I am interested in offering teeth whitening in my salon but im worried because I have read that teeth whitening can only be performed by a registered dental professional, I would like to ask if this is true or false and if you recommend any insurance companies that will insure a non dental professional to do cosmetic teeth whitening within a salon.Also I have read that there are 2 different types of product used, one contains HP and the other B zero, which does your product use.I have looked into this quite alot and im really unsure whether to go ahead, I think it would go down well in my area, but i need to be sure that what im offering is legal, safe and has actual results. Thanks
And this was his reply:
Hi Rebecca please dont worry about teeth whitening, we offer a non preoxide teeth whitening training which is 100% safe and legal, all the bad press is due to people having bad training and being careless.
We can offer you full training with a salon machine for only £****, this includes everything you need for 10 customers so if you charge £*** a customer you will make £****, so the whole setup will only cost you £***.
Please call me with any other questions.
As you can see he really didnt answer any of my questions and i fear that if i ring i will be subject to hard pressure sales.
I have been on the GDC website and come across this leaflet
http://www.gdc-uk.org/Newsandpublic...lications/GDC_Tooth_whitening_leaflet (2).pdf
hope that link works.
All i keep coming across from the GDC is "we believe tooth whitening should be carried out by a dental professional" it doesnt go on to say whether it is legal for anyone taking these tooth whitening courses can do it.
What do you think.
I wouldnt mind hearing from people that already offer tooth whitening, who insures you, and is there a demand for it.

Thanks

 

[Terese]

Hi
I have seen (and I cant remember where a uk dentist endorsed teeth whitening system), as I looked into it - im clearing out some paperwork so will check through various mags and see what I can find for you

 

[Jack Dunn]

Becky, I recall several threads on here recently about this subject and some changes in the way it can be carried out. I attach a link to one thread which may answer your queries.. Jack

http://www.salongeek.com/biz-geek/135952-average-joe-sued-doing-teeth-whitening.html

 

[BotoxBoy]

Short answer: it's illegal.

 

[becky30]

Oh dear, I used to be a trainee dental nurse and know how expensive teeth whitening can be at the dentist, so thought it would be a good idea to train in this as I had seen it cheaper in beauty salons, I had only just convinced my husband to let me do the course so as I looked into it, I didn't like what I was finding, so asked you geeks for advice. I think it's best leaving this one then. I should have stayed on at dental college lol.
I don't understand why the GDC are not chasing the companies that offer the training to non dental professionals with court action, that would sort this problem out at the root.

 

[BotoxBoy]

They are! A guy got fined £5k recently!

 

[Gemster]

They are! A guy got fined £5k recently!

Is the guy you are talking about from London? If not I know of 2 more people who have been prosecuted; I spend a lot of time in court for my day job and my ears pricked up when I heard the charges! As far as I can remember they were both directors of a company offering training packages and they were fined in the region of £5k-£7k each.

 

[BotoxBoy]

The one I meant was actually doing the teeth whitening and it was the first case brought by the GDC this year! It's on their website x

 

[Adie]

I have been considering doing a tooth whitening course for some time, i know there are lots of threads on here about it but i just want to know if its legal and can insurance be obtained.
i emailed someone at ritesmile.co.uk with all my questions, this was my email:
I am interested in offering teeth whitening in my salon but im worried because I have read that teeth whitening can only be performed by a registered dental professional, I would like to ask if this is true or false and if you recommend any insurance companies that will insure a non dental professional to do cosmetic teeth whitening within a salon.Also I have read that there are 2 different types of product used, one contains HP and the other B zero, which does your product use.I have looked into this quite alot and im really unsure whether to go ahead, I think it would go down well in my area, but i need to be sure that what im offering is legal, safe and has actual results. Thanks
And this was his reply:
Hi Rebecca please dont worry about teeth whitening, we offer a non preoxide teeth whitening training which is 100% safe and legal, all the bad press is due to people having bad training and being careless.
We can offer you full training with a salon machine for only £****, this includes everything you need for 10 customers so if you charge £*** a customer you will make £****, so the whole setup will only cost you £***.
Please call me with any other questions.
As you can see he really didnt answer any of my questions and i fear that if i ring i will be subject to hard pressure sales.
I have been on the GDC website and come across this leaflet
http://www.gdc-uk.org/Newsandpublic...lications/GDC_Tooth_whitening_leaflet (2).pdf
hope that link works.
All i keep coming across from the GDC is "we believe tooth whitening should be carried out by a dental professional" it doesnt go on to say whether it is legal for anyone taking these tooth whitening courses can do it.
What do you think.
I wouldnt mind hearing from people that already offer tooth whitening, who insures you, and is there a demand for it.

Thanks

Hi Becky

I can assure it is not illegal, but some products are.

The GDC say the 'believe' or 'consider' because it is not a fact. But the are lobbying hard to wipe out the non-dentist industry.

The cases reported had nothing to do with illegal teeth whitening at all. One was made because the person purported to be a dentist and the other was on health grounds.

The GDC carried out the same scarey campaign back in 2007-8. It seems to be working, having read a number of comments on this forum

I have been tooth whitening for 4 years, whitened nearly 2000 teeth without any problems. I have also been visited by Trading Standards and they liked my health and safety protocols.

I used to be a civil servant and like to do everything by the book. I have also written a research paper on tooth Whitening.