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Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

T he British Government has set in legislation the Council of Euro- pean Dentists’ changes that applied to dental bleaching. These new tooth whitening laws will help to protect pa- tients and give more promi- nence to the dental profes- sional’s role. Made on 2 September 2012 and laid before Parliament on 5 September 2012, the Statu- tory Instrument The Cosmetic Products (Safety) (Amend- ment) Regulation 2012 will come into effect on 31 October 2012. First and foremost, UK law will officially recognise that tooth whitening is the practice of dentistry. Tooth whitening products containing or releas- ing between 0.1 per cent and 6 per cent hydrogen peroxide are to be sold to dental practi- tioners only. Products containing or re- leasing between 0.1 per cent and 6 per cent hydrogen per- oxide are legal for tooth whit- ening, provided that a dentist performs an initial clinical examination and either car- ries out the first treatment or supervises a suitably quali- fied dental professional. After this, the dentist can supply the product to the patient so they can complete the cycle of use at home. Any non-dental profession- als performing tooth whiten- ing treatment are liable to be prosecuted. It is the role of the GDC to prosecute non-dental professionals who are pro- viding a tooth whitening ser- vice, however Trading Stand- ards can act if the individual or company are using a con- centration of (or releasing) over 0.1 per cent hydrogen peroxide. The new legislation will also announce that: • Members of the public can legally purchase tooth whiten- ing products containing or re- leasing a concentration of up to 0.1% hydrogen peroxide for at home use as over the coun- ter (OTC) products. • Tooth whitening products containing or releasing be- tween 0.1 per cent and 6 per cent hydrogen peroxide may not be used on people under 18 years of age. For many years there have been concerns over tooth whitening treatment per- formed by non-dental pro- fessionals such as beauty therapists. The Bleaching So- ciety has campaigned vigor- ously for changes to the law to enhance clarity and bring dental bleaching firmly and solely within the remit of the dental profession. This en- sures the patient’s safety as well as that of the individual applying the treatment and the Bleaching Society wel- comes the changes. The new EU Council Di- rective, when incorporated in UK legislation, is making its intentions plain: for tooth whitening treatment, go to the dentist. At the same time, dental professionals will have an explicit set of guidelines for the provision of legal tooth whitening treatment at a time when a whiter, brighter smile is still the peak of desirability. The Bleaching Society has played a significant role in raising awareness to drive for- ward legislative change and continues to lobby on dentists’ behalf. Executive Commit- tee Member of the BDBS, Sir Paul Beresford, has repeat- edly raised the subject of den- tal bleaching at the House of Commons for debate on topics such as the dangers of non- dental professional opera- tors and issues resulting from EU restrictions and Trading Standards. Sir Paul will once again approach the Parlia- mentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to question him on the following points: • Dental bleaching for under 18-year-olds in exceptional circumstances. • Instances where greater than 6 per cent hydrogen per- oxide would be acceptable. • The involvement of Trading Standards Officers and/or the GDC in checking non-dental professional teeth bleaching establishments. • Progress made on outlawing the use of chlorine dioxide for teeth bleaching. Dr Linda Greenwall, Chair of the BDBS, says: “The Bleaching Society wel- comes the new legislation as it makes it clear that only dentists can undertake tooth whitening, and that the super- vision of home whitening us- ing up to 6 per cent hydrogen peroxide will require first an assessment and treatment by a dentist.” The British Dental Bleach- ing Society offers in-depth, hands on, certified train- ing in tooth whitening for all members of the dental team. With our help, you have the confidence and ability to dramatically improve your patients’ smiles using a minimally invasive and af- fordable treatment. In addition to unparalleled training opportunities, mem- bership of the BDBS keeps you up-to-date on the latest bleaching products and tech- niques, as well as research material from leaders in the field of tooth whitening. Our experts are on hand to help you on all matters relating to dental bleaching. Whether you’d like some training, have a tricky case or are unsure of legal matters, contact the Bleaching Society – we’re here to help. DT New Tooth Whitening Laws Good news for dentistry says BDBS Contact Information For more information on this and the many benefits of BDBS membership, visit www.bdbs.co.uk or email info@ bdbs.co.uk or call 0207 267 7070 October 22 - 28, 2012United Kingdom Edition www.septodont.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)1622 695520 Anaesthetics • Endodontics Restorative Dentistry • Dental Surgery Prosthetic Dentistry • Disinfection & Hygiene As the first all-in-one biocompatible and bioactive dentine substitute, Biodentine™ fully replaces dentine wherever it’s damaged. Biodentine™ helps the remineralization of dentine, preserves the pulp vitality and promotes pulp healing. It replaces dentine with similar biological and mechanical properties. Improving on Biodentine™ clinical implementation, you can now bond the composite onto Biodentine™ in the same visit and perform the full restoration in a single session. The first and only dentine substitute in a capsule Learn more with the Biodentine™ brochure