7 Reasons Salon Teeth Whitening is Risky...and Illegal

Teeth whitening has become the single biggest cosmetic procedure done by dentists, simply because the effects are quick, noticeable, and relatively low cost. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the total annual revenue in the teeth whitening industry topped $11 billion at the beginning of 2015.

It’s no wonder that beauty salons want to try to take a bite out of that market, especially since there are all sorts of over-the-counter whitening options that can be used at home. It’s come to my attention quite recently that there are salons in Connecticut that are still offering teeth whitening and “laser” teeth whitening—often at a fraction of what dental offices charge.  Here is a disturbing video of promoters trying to sell salon owners whitening equipment in order to make a quick buck. 

In fact, I saw that there is a local salon that is offering the service for less money than I can buy a single professional treatment pack from my supplier wholesale.   (Please note that my supplier, PhilipsZoom, will not sell these supplies to a salon, because they actually work, are strong, and therefore are for prescription use, only; and we don’t use “lasers”—it’s an LED light that is exactly designed to interact with a precisely formulated oxidizing agent).

Nevertheless, some salons have lights they call “lasers” they will put in your mouth after they give you a tray full of god-knows-what to put inside of your mouth. 

This is dangerous and it is illegal.  Why?

Salon-based teeth whitening was considered by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) in 2011, and ruled that professional teeth whitening is within the statutory definition of the “practice of dentistry,” as it poses potential harm to people if done incorrectly or with improper materials or devices. Therefore, only dentists can perform professional teeth whitening procedures. When offered by non-dentists, it is the unauthorized practice of dentistry.  

These are the reasons the DPH gave for its decision:

• Coffee, tea, wine, and other staining foods and beverages are not the only reasons people have discolored teeth. Metabolic disease, trauma to the tooth pulp and certain drugs can also cause discoloration. The decision of whether to recommend or apply bleaching agents and/or bleaching lights to a particular person’s teeth requires significant diagnostic expertise and skills, in part, to allow the provider to distinguish between pathological versus nonpathological causes of tooth discoloration.something only dentists are trained to do.

• Professional strength tooth whitening products contain potent oxidizing elements that, if applied incorrectly, can cause serious burns.

• Many studies which have analyzed the effect of light during office bleaching procedures have indicated that there are risks associated with the use of strong lights. Serious pulpal irritation, tooth sensitivity and lip burns have been reported to occur at a higher rate with the use of strong lights.

• There should be adequate eye and skin protection for the patient and the operator of the light if it is being used to enhance the product in a bleaching procedure.

• The presence of existing tooth colored restorations, veneers, bridges, and ceramic crowns, need to be evaluated and color matched in the bleaching process, which only dentists are trained to do.

• The presence of failing restorations, untreated cavities, cracks in teeth and exposed root surfaces all need to be identified and evaluated (and sometimes corrected) before such bleaching procedures are safely attempted.

• If any bleaching material enters a tooth through a defect, the patient risks permanent damage, that must be treated by Root Canal Therapy.

This ruling was immediately challenged in Federal Courts by salon owners, backed by special interest groups. The DPH’s decision was upheld both at the District Court level, and on appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court refused to consider an appeal.

So why are salons still offering whitening? I suppose for the same reason anyone does illegal plastic surgery...many people desire to have a procedure done; some of those people are willing to risk their bodies hoping for a good result from an unlicensed and untrained person using inferior materials and techniques; and there are people who are willing to risk jail time and fines for illegally performing these procedures in exchange for money.

And in case you were wondering what the punishment is in Connecticut for illegaly performing teeth whitening:  it's a Class D Felony.   The maximum punishment is 5 years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine per patient per occurrence.

Keep smiling,  

Dr.Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD is a private practice dentist with offices in West Hartford Center and Downtown New Britain, Connecticut.  She is a Clinical Instructor at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, and has won several awards naming her regional “Best Dentist” and “Top Dentist.” She is an active member of the Connecticut State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Tel: 860-561-2121

Charcoal-How Can It Help You If It's Hurting You?

There's a story my grandmother told me about an animal that was very thirsty, and was licking everything to find water. It started licking a file, causing its tongue to bleed.  The animal tasted liquid and thought this was good, until it was too late (and it was bad).  This reminds me of an extremely disturbing trend I have seen with some patients recently.

I feel it is my obligation as a dentist warn you against DIY whitening that involves abrading tooth surfaces with a charcoal-derived black mixture. The method, which leads to enamel deterioration and tooth erosion, apparently has became an online sensation, and videos on YouTube began to get millions of views demonstrating this technique.

Some videos claim the charcoal mixture as “highly absorbent,” implying or stating that impurities, stains and bacteria will be absorbed by the charcoal mixture, which in turn cause whitening of the tooth surfaces. But this is not correct. While the cosmetic result of the method may produce a whitening effect, the effect is produced by reducing layers of your enamel, which cannot be regrown. This reduces the structural integrity of the tooth.

Your teeth are not like your hair, skin, or nails—all of those comes back. Teeth are the only part of the ectoderm that does not replenish or heal itself— once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Zoom! professional bleaching products that we use in our West Hartford dental office and Downtown New Britain dental office, and at-home bleaching trays we can provide, seep approved and tested bleaching material through the enamel and into the inner layer of the tooth called the dentin, which influences tooth color. and other bleaching products we prescribe do not erode the enamel. The charcoal supplement will also have wide variation in the amount of enamel that is removed, from person to person, because they will use it differently, applying different pressures, and removing differing amounts of tooth structure.

The amount of enamel this trendy product removes leaves the tooth susceptible to greater deterioration and erosion from other dietary sources, such as soda, acid and bacteria-fueling-sugar, which can lead to sensitivity and cavities. In fact I recently had two patients complaining of tooth sensitivity, and they admitted that it started after they began using charcoal self-whitening products!

In the long-term, the results couldn’t be worse. When you lose enamel, teeth get sensitive and darker in color because you get closer to the part of the tooth that has the depth of the color. Since you can’t grow it back, the only thing you’ll be able to do is cover it up with a number of crowns or a possibly a set of veneers.

To avoid these risks, I recommend patients who are interested in whitening their teeth opt instead for formally tested dental procedures or at-home whitening trays provided by their dentist. You’ll likely have much better results, and over time, you won’t see the permanent erosion of charcoal.

Keep smiling,  

Dr.Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD is a private practice dentist with offices in West Hartford Center and Downtown New Britain, Connecticut.  She is a Clinical Instructor at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, and has won several awards naming her regional “Best Dentist” and “Top Dentist.” She is an active member of the Connecticut State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Tel: 860-561-2121