While teeth whitening is a safe procedure on the whole, but it can be dangerous if carried out by someone who is unqualified. Only registered dental professionals, such as fully qualified dentists, dental therapists, and dental hygienists are legally allowed to carry out the procedure. The process involves bleaching your teeth using a whitening product that contains a weak acid and oxidising agent, hydrogen peroxide.
You don’t always have to visit a dentist to get your teeth whitened as it is possible to pick up over-the-counter tooth whitening kits. However, for those to be legal they must only contain 0.1% hydrogen peroxide; this can mean that some home kits do not contain enough hydrogen peroxide to be effective. A dentist can legally use 6% hydrogen peroxide.
Take extreme caution if you buy home kits online, as a BBC investigation found that a product they bought online contained sodium perborate, which is banned for use in cosmetic products by the EU, as it has been linked with foetal abnormalities.
Whether you do it yourself or go to the dentist, there are risks and side effects that you should be aware of:
If you do decide that you want to undergo a teeth whitening procedure, visit your dentist. Don’t be afraid to ask about the different treatments and what the potential risks are in your particular case. Get a second opinion if you need to, and speak to others who have undergone the procedure. For further information, go to the NHS or the General Dental Council.
If you’ve had a teeth whitening procedure at your dentist and you have suffered unnecessary pain, then you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the Dental Law Partnership today.