Teeth Whitening at the Mall. Unsafe, but is it Illegal?
On my latest trip to the mall I couldn't believe my eyes. There it was in the middle of a busy mall, a lady performing teeth whitening on a patient while inviting others to join on the other two chairs she had available. As a curious consumer, I asked how much the teeth whitening procedure costs. She said $99 and it's guaranteed for 4 shades lighter. If you think these procedures are being done by dentists, think again.
Teeth Whitening at mall kiosks are growing in popularity due to consumer convenience and naivety, and the ability for kiosk operators to quickly find willing customers. These kiosks are generally franchise owned, so they are not administered by dental professionals. They are not dentists, RDHs or RDAs, rather workers “dressed up” in medical garments to give people a false sense they are being treated by a dental professional. Besides the fact that one would look ridiculous doing this procedure in the middle of a busy mall, it is also dangerous. The catch that makes the process legal is that operators do not place the product in the “patient’s” mouth. Instead, the “patient” inserts the bleaching product themselves.
Undergoing professional teeth whitening at a kiosk can cause irreversible damages to your teeth. The bleach generally used at these kiosks consists of high concentration hydrogen carbamide peroxide, usually 35%. This is what dental offices use. The chemicals at this high of a concentration are extremely acidic, and if not properly administered, can ruin tooth enamel.
Professional teeth whitening should always be done under the supervision of a DDS: A Dentist assesses patients, and decides on the advisability of bleaching, and prediction of outcome for each patient. Furthermore, the dentist will have knowledge of the oral anatomy, principles of patient care, and the possible dangers involved: i.e (if gums are not adequately protected or if there is gum disease).
From : http://www.teethwhiteningreviews.com/artman/publish/
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