Vital Tooth Bleaching in Dental Practice: 3. Biological, Dental and Legal Issues

From Volume 33, Issue 7, September 2006 | Pages 422-432

Authors

I A Pretty

BDS(Hons), MSc, PhD, MFDS RCS(Ed)

Senior Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry and Research Fellow, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

Articles by I A Pretty

PA Brunton

PhD, MSc, BChD, FDS(Rest Dent) RCS(Ed)

Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, Dental Health Unit, the University of Manchester, UK

Articles by PA Brunton

A Aminian

BDS, MSc, MFDS RCPS, MRD RCS(Ed)

Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry and Specialist in Prosthodontics, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

Articles by A Aminian

RM Davies

BDS, PhD

Professor, Dental Health Unit, Dental Health Unit, the University of Manchester, UK

Articles by RM Davies

RP Ellwood

BDS, MSc, MDS, PhD

Senior Lecturer in Dental Public Health, Dental Health Unit, the University of Manchester, UK

Articles by RP Ellwood

Abstract

The final section of this series examines both the evidence for the safety of external bleaching with hydrogen peroxide and related products and the legal position in the UK with regard to their sale and use in general dental practice. Potential side-effects are examined, including biological effects and dental effects, with a review of the current evidence. The EU Cosmetics and Medical Device Directive are both described and their impact on the provision of tooth bleaching in the UK is explained. The legal position in the UK renders the sale and supply of solutions containing >0.1% peroxide illegal, and practitioners must be aware of the underlying legislation and the basis upon which a prosecution may be pursued.

Article