The clampdown on ‘illegal’ teeth whitening treatments
Teeth whitening treatments are one of our most popular services here at AP Smilecare. However, the popularity of the procedure has led to many establishments, particularly in the beauty industry, offering the procedure illegally. Because of this, there has been a clampdown on those offering cosmetic procedures illegally – from liposuction through to teeth whitening – in order to ensure consumer’s health and safety.
The recent clampdown comes as a result of more and more people and clinics offering these services illegally. In fact, the Local Government Association reported that a “worrying number” of unqualified beauticians were using unsafe, unregulated kits on consumers in the UK. These kits, commonly purchased on the Internet, have been found to contain more than 33% hydrogen peroxide – far above the legal limits of 0.1% for public use, or 6% for professionals.
What’s more, the General Dental Council prosecuted 32 non-qualified practitioners in 2015. This is very worrying number considering these were just the few practitioners that were caught.
The risks
When it comes to cosmetic procedures, such as teeth whitening, it pays to go to a professional. Without doing so you face the risks of:
- Gum blistering
- Gum shrinking
- Tooth sensitivity
- Permanent damage to tooth enamel
- Permanent discolouration
The dangers of hydrogen peroxide are very real. This is why the Dentists Act 1984 makes it a criminal offence for anyone that’s not a registered dentist to carry out teeth whitening. However plush or trustworthy a beauty clinic may be, it’s likely that the staff are not qualified to carry out the job – unless they have a registered dentist on board.
Questions to ask
Whenever you enquire about a dental or cosmetic procedure, it’s a good idea to ask the following questions to ensure that everything is above board.
- What treatments do you have available and how do they differ?
- What results can I expect? Do you have any examples or before and after photos?
- What are the risks?
- Who will be carrying out the procedure and what training do they have?
- What aftercare do you provide?
- What insurance do you have?
Together, these questions should help you ascertain if you’re in safe hands.
Teeth whitening treatments at AP Smilecare
At AP Smilecare we offer a fully comprehensive teeth whitening treatments. You’ll receive all the dental care you need and our expert team will answer every single one of your questions.
What’s more, our service is designed especially for you. Unlike a number of ‘illegal’ clinics, which use a generic tray to apply the hydrogen peroxide solution, we put our specially made formula into a custom made dental tray, made to fit your teeth.
With AP Smilecare you’ll achieve optimum results designed to last – plus expert aftercare to ensure you get the most out of your new pearly whites.
To find out more about our teeth whitening services, give us a call on 01254 297 000 to book your consultation.
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