Teeth whitening is one of the most requested cosmetic treatments in the UK, and also one of the most poorly regulated in practice. Plenty of salons, mobile technicians and social media sellers offer it. Most of them are breaking the law.

Here is what you actually need to know before you book anything.

Only a registered dental professional can legally whiten teeth

Tooth whitening is dentistry. The High Court confirmed this, and under the Dentists Act 1984 it can only be provided by professionals registered with the General Dental Council.

That applies regardless of the product being used. A beauty salon offering whitening, or a technician who comes to your house, is not permitted to do it — even with a “peroxide-free” product.

The 6% rule, and the age limit

Under the Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013, whitening products containing or releasing between 0.1% and 6% hydrogen peroxide can only be supplied to dental practitioners, and only after a clinical examination. Anything above 6% is prohibited for cosmetic use, by anyone.

The first application of a whitening cycle must be carried out by a dentist, or by a hygienist or therapist under a dentist’s direct supervision in the practice. After that, you complete the course at home.

What can go wrong

Whitening carried out properly is a well-established treatment with a good safety record. The problems tend to come from unsupervised or illegal treatment:

• Chemical burns to the gums, lips and throat from over-strength gel or ill-fitting trays
• Whitening applied over untreated decay or gum disease, which can be painful and delays the real problem being found
• Sensitivity that is not managed or anticipated
• Uneven or disappointing results where the discolouration was never going to respond to whitening in the first place

Some tooth discolouration does not respond well to whitening, and that can only be identified by examining the teeth first.

What dentist-led whitening involves

It starts with an examination. We check for decay, gum health and the cause of the discolouration, and we tell you honestly what we think whitening will and will not achieve for you.

If it is appropriate, we take a scan or impressions and have custom-made trays produced to fit your teeth. Custom trays matter — they hold the gel against the teeth and keep it off the gums, which is where the one-size-fits-all kits fall down.

You are then given the gel and instructions and complete the course at home, with us available if anything is not going as expected.

Things worth knowing beforehand

• Results vary between individuals, and no dentist can promise a specific shade.
• Whitening does not change the colour of crowns, veneers, bridges or white fillings. If you have these at the front of your mouth, they may need replacing afterwards to match — worth budgeting for.
• Temporary sensitivity is common and usually settles after the course finishes.
• Whitening is not permanent. Most people top up periodically.
• If you smoke or drink a lot of tea, coffee or red wine, the result will fade faster.

Cost

Our whitening fees are listed on our fees page , and the assessment is part of the process rather than an extra.

Book an assessment

We provide dentist-led teeth whitening at our practice in the centre of Leighton Buzzard, for patients aged 18 and over, following an examination.

If your teeth need a clean before whitening, our hygiene team can advise, and if you are considering straightening your teeth as well, whitening is normally done afterwards.