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OC Register reports on tooth whitening kiosks at the mall. Customers sit in a chair while a technician (NOT a licensed dentist or hygienist) applies whitening gel and shines a light in their mouths. While other states have shut these operations down, in California, they are reportedly being allowed to conduct business. Here's our response to this latest retail trend.
There are three basic questions to ask about these whitening kiosks:
- Are they safe?
- Are they legal?
- Are they effective?
Are they safe?
Peroxide is fairly safe at retail concentrations. Apparently, these retail whitening operations are applying over-the-counter strength
Are they legal?
Probably not. Paying for drug applied to the mouth, in our opinion, requires some sort of state license. We feel that peroxide, long used by dentists, should require a dental license. Peroxide is generally safe at low concentrations, which is why it's available over the counter in white strips and such. However, if you dispense a product on a paying customer, you must be trained to handle the potential complications: tooth sensitivity, soft tissue burns, etc. If you get whitening at a dentist's office, they are trained to deal with these issues when they (occasionally) happen. If you get whitening at a booth in the mall, they are NOT trained or licensed to handle any of those complications.
At the very least, these operations should have the general, if not direct, supervision of a dentist owner. Of course, requiring a dentist to be on premises would make these operations economically unfeasible at the $20-99 price that they charge. California law requires that any licensed dental business has the dental license of the managing dentist on public display. They look exactly like those certificates you see at the hairdresser, only they say dental license in instead of beauty license. If you don't see a license posted, it's not licensed, period.
So why do these operations stay open? The problem is that California's Dental Board is currently in organizational flux as it transitions back into the Department of Consumer Affairs. Even when it was more "stable", the California Dental Board has not stopped retail jewelry shops that make gold "grills" that fit onto front teeth, which is CLEARLY practicing dentistry. They do not have the money or resources to enforce existing laws on all the bad dentistry going on at big dental bargain chop shops, let alone the shopping mall booths.
Are they effective?
If they are using carbamide peroxide, probably not...that is a slower acting (but less sensitivity provoking) form of peroxide that requires several hours for peak effect. Hydrogen peroxide acts in the 20 minute time period, but only at high strengths that only dentists can prescribe...with good reason, as severe gum burns can result from inadequate precautions. So whatever they are using, it's the same problem as whitening mouthwashes....it's not strong enough, and it's not long enough. If it were, no one is applying gum protection, so you'd literally get burned.
Anecdotal reports of effectiveness are mostly due to something Zoom customers are well aware of...the dessication effect. Simply put, leaving your mouth open for an extended time dries them out, making them look whiter. When you close your mouth and rehydrate your teeth, the teeth darken back. That's why one-hour whitening without followup treatment is doomed to fail after just two days.
What would you recommend?
The safest, most effective whitening is always going to be at the dentist's office, under professional supervision. For those who cannot afford or do not desire to visit the dentist, then over-the-counter white strips are a proven, if time consuming alternative.
Read the original OC Register story here.
Correction: I (Vu Le, DDS) have been reading up with a few dentists around the country on this development. Apparently, the loophole that retail whitening business use is that they sell the product, and provide directions, a seat, and a bright blue light, but do not physically touch their customers.
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