Post by Cullyn Of Cerrmor on Jan 4, 2009 9:07:52 GMT 9.5
Teeth-whitening kiosks gain grimaces
Melissa Singer | January 4, 2009 - 7:36AM
A great upgrade to any smile� or a step into the unknown ... Uta Hennig has her teeth whitened at Prowhitening, Queens Plaza.
Brighter smiles now wait at the local shopping centre, with teeth-whitening kiosks opening in malls across South-East Queensland.
But dentists and consumer groups fear quick-fix whitening procedures might damage teeth and hip-pockets in the long run.
For $150, significantly less than the cost of whitening treatments by dentists, the 20-minute procedure using a concentrated bleaching agent and a LED light promises teeth that are two to six shades lighter.
Prowhitening director Tamar Ben-Hur started the company on the Gold Coast last year after seeing similar kiosks in the US. She now has three outlets in South-East Queensland, with plans to expand.
She said teeth whitening was ''not a dental or medical procedure but a simple cosmetic procedure'' so she could not see why dentists should have a monopoly over the service.
Ms Ben-Hur said she generally saw two types of customers: those who wanted but could not afford whitening by a dentist, and those who ''have never thought of it but come across [the kiosk] and see how simple it is''.
''It's a great upgrade to any smile,'' she said.
Australian Dental Association Queensland president Greg Moore said the kiosks were not governed by the same regulations as dentists but performed some similar services.
''What is their infection protocol? Are the bleaches safe? What training have they had?'' Dr Moore said.
''It's really a step into the unknown for a client.''
Inexperienced operators could also put themselves at risk, Dr Moore said.
''Are they sure they are working in a disease-free mouth?'' he said.
Choice spokesman Christopher Zinn said teeth-whitening operators without an industry code similar to those governing solariums, tattooists and piercers had no legal liability.
He did not argue that teeth-whitening kiosks were the same as solariums or tattooists but that similar issues were involved.
Mr Zinn said particular concerns were consent, particularly for minors, and professional conduct and hygiene.
''There is no control if it's a franchise operation,'' he said.
While shopping centre whitening offered a cheaper alternative to a dentist treatment, ''it may come back to bite you''.
''Any kind of procedure that's Leg 3intrusive, you really want to be sure of the qualifications of the people doing it,'' Mr Zinn said.
''You want to be sure it works and that it doesn't cause any issues.''
Ms Ben-Hur said the results were only as good as clients' DNA, but most would be pleasantly surprised.
''Whether you pay $150 or $1000, it's never about painting teeth white or changing their genetic colour,'' she said.
Dr Moore said a visit to the dentist for a good check-up and clean should precede any whitening treatment.
He said the Dental Association's Queensland branch was watching whitening kiosks to ensure they did not venture into dentistry, which was defined as a ``permanent change to teeth''.
''There is a fine line between dentistry and putting on lipstick,'' he said.
Melissa Singer | January 4, 2009 - 7:36AM
A great upgrade to any smile� or a step into the unknown ... Uta Hennig has her teeth whitened at Prowhitening, Queens Plaza.
Brighter smiles now wait at the local shopping centre, with teeth-whitening kiosks opening in malls across South-East Queensland.
But dentists and consumer groups fear quick-fix whitening procedures might damage teeth and hip-pockets in the long run.
For $150, significantly less than the cost of whitening treatments by dentists, the 20-minute procedure using a concentrated bleaching agent and a LED light promises teeth that are two to six shades lighter.
Prowhitening director Tamar Ben-Hur started the company on the Gold Coast last year after seeing similar kiosks in the US. She now has three outlets in South-East Queensland, with plans to expand.
She said teeth whitening was ''not a dental or medical procedure but a simple cosmetic procedure'' so she could not see why dentists should have a monopoly over the service.
Ms Ben-Hur said she generally saw two types of customers: those who wanted but could not afford whitening by a dentist, and those who ''have never thought of it but come across [the kiosk] and see how simple it is''.
''It's a great upgrade to any smile,'' she said.
Australian Dental Association Queensland president Greg Moore said the kiosks were not governed by the same regulations as dentists but performed some similar services.
''What is their infection protocol? Are the bleaches safe? What training have they had?'' Dr Moore said.
''It's really a step into the unknown for a client.''
Inexperienced operators could also put themselves at risk, Dr Moore said.
''Are they sure they are working in a disease-free mouth?'' he said.
Choice spokesman Christopher Zinn said teeth-whitening operators without an industry code similar to those governing solariums, tattooists and piercers had no legal liability.
He did not argue that teeth-whitening kiosks were the same as solariums or tattooists but that similar issues were involved.
Mr Zinn said particular concerns were consent, particularly for minors, and professional conduct and hygiene.
''There is no control if it's a franchise operation,'' he said.
While shopping centre whitening offered a cheaper alternative to a dentist treatment, ''it may come back to bite you''.
''Any kind of procedure that's Leg 3intrusive, you really want to be sure of the qualifications of the people doing it,'' Mr Zinn said.
''You want to be sure it works and that it doesn't cause any issues.''
Ms Ben-Hur said the results were only as good as clients' DNA, but most would be pleasantly surprised.
''Whether you pay $150 or $1000, it's never about painting teeth white or changing their genetic colour,'' she said.
Dr Moore said a visit to the dentist for a good check-up and clean should precede any whitening treatment.
He said the Dental Association's Queensland branch was watching whitening kiosks to ensure they did not venture into dentistry, which was defined as a ``permanent change to teeth''.
''There is a fine line between dentistry and putting on lipstick,'' he said.