Document Detail


An investigation into the current practice of tooth whitening in a southern English city in the context of associated legal issues.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20594426     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
AIMS: This investigation examined the current practice of tooth whitening carried out by a sample of dentists and beauty therapists from Portsmouth in the context of the relevant law. METHODS: A random sample of dentists and all beauty salons in Portsmouth were invited to respond to two postal questionnaires, one for dentists and one for beauty salons. These questionnaires were used to assess whether tooth-whitening services were offered and if so, details of products and techniques employed. The findings were analysed and compared with the current United Kingdom law on tooth whitening. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-nine dentists (88%) and 76 (75%) beauty salons responded. One hundred and nineteen (66%) of the responding dentists and eight (11%) responding beauty salons provided in-house and/or take-home tooth-whitening services. The vast majority employed whitening agents containing or releasing hydrogen peroxide at a concentration greater than that permitted by the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2008. CONCLUSIONS: The current practice of tooth whitening by the dentists and beauty salons surveyed in this study is at odds with the criminal law that has been developed in order to safeguard consumers in relation to the products employed and the individuals carrying out the practice of dentistry. The practice also raises civil law issues, and compensation may be necessary in the event of injury. A change in the law, based on a scientific background and professional standards of care, is required at both European and domestic levels in order to align reasonable practice with the law, while upholding patient safety.
Authors:
Heather A Beckett
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Primary dental care : journal of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK)     Volume:  17     ISSN:  1355-7610     ISO Abbreviation:  Prim Dent Care     Publication Date:  2010 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-07-02     Completed Date:  2010-09-02     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9617339     Medline TA:  Prim Dent Care     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  127-35     Citation Subset:  D    
Affiliation:
Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK. hbeckett53@hotmail.com
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Beauty Culture / legislation & jurisprudence
Consumer Product Safety
Criminal Law
Dentists / legislation & jurisprudence
Great Britain
Humans
Questionnaires
Tooth Bleaching* / methods,  statistics & numerical data

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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