The Dangers of Tooth Whitening

Would you ask your plumber to fix your car?

Would you ask your hairdresser to rewire the house you are renovating?

In most cases, the answer to these questions would be no. Frequently, people entrust their precious smile to non-dental professionals and I am not sure why? Sometimes they get away with it and the whitening kit they bought online works and everything turns out fine. Sometimes it does not work out fine and the teeth are damaged, often permanently and it can be difficult to mask the damage.

We see patients in the practice who are in this unenviable position and we do our best to help them. So yes, tooth whitening is an unregulated procedure which means people, other than dental professionals, can offer it as a service. 

Weirdly, the strength of the online purchased products used can be greater than what we use as regulated, licenced dental professionals. (That's technical to explain why, and best done face to face, as it took the profession a while to get its head around it). The danger is that those stronger products can do immediate damage to your teeth and since the person does not carry insurance, you often have no recourse.

So, if you are thinking of whitening your teeth, choose someone who has completed appropriate professional training, who is able to assess your health and medical conditions and take these into account, as well as the health of your teeth and gums. Choose someone who will explain the process thoroughly, including the risks and the benefits and who will carry out the procedure safely.

We want your smile to last you a lifetime.