Читать книгу Basic Guide to Oral Health Education and Promotion - Alison Chapman - Страница 88

Although the OHE cannot undertake tooth whitening in the UK, they should be aware of what is involved and its benefits and limitations in case they need to answer a patient’s question.

Under the General Dental Council’s Scope of Practice (see Chapter 31), in the UK only registered dental professionals (dentists, therapists and hygienists) can provide tooth whitening as it is considered a form of dentistry, and should only be undertaken following an assessment by a registered dentist [1]. Therapists and hygienists must have a prescription from the dentist before providing this treatment. Some beauty salons offer teeth whitening, but this is illegal in the UK.

Products that contain or release less than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide can be legally sold in Europe, but unregistered individuals cannot legally use them to provide treatment [1].

Patients should be advised that illegal treatment and home teeth whitening kits can put their oral health at risk, particularly from ill‐fitting whitening trays which may cause the gel to leak into the gums and the rest of the oral cavity, and cause sensitivity, or even blistering.

Patients may also ask about toothpaste products, but these often have insufficient whitening product to make a significant difference; they may help remove stains, but will not penetrate the tooth tissue itself.