PLATFORM FOR JUSTICE IN TEETH WHITENING SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT
After months of bad press and no small amount of controversy regarding the status of teeth whitening in the UK, a group of providers who use non-peroxide gels - which contain or release up to 0.1% Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) - have launched an association called Platform For Justice in Teeth Whitening, in order to protect their rights.
As a first step, the group has drawn up a manifesto, which bears witness to the harassment they are suffering from the GDC, and points to the lack of a legal basis for the Council’s position, in addition to the failure of the UK authorities to put an end to this situation.
A number of articles published by the GDC in recent times have caused not only irreparable damage to the reputation of many spas, salons and teeth whitening companies, but also serious financial loss on their part.
Platform for Justice in Teeth Whitening hopes that their manifesto, based on REAL FACTS, will help to clarify the status of teeth whitening in the UK.
As the Platform explains, the General Dental Council BELIEVES that tooth whitening, regardless of the gel used, should be considered the act of dentistry and that it should therefore be restricted to dental professionals only. However, this position clearly contradicts the provisions of European Directive 2011/84/EU, which states that a dental background is only required when gels of Hydrogen Peroxide are used between 0.1% and 6% H2O2 and not when they contain less than 0.1%.
A spokesperson for the Platform says "the GDC clearly disregards the provisions of the above-mentioned EU Directive and bases their position on the Dentist Act of 1984. Surprisingly enough this act doesnʼt deem teeth whitening as an act of dentistry - it doesnʼt even mention the words “whitening” or “ bleaching” - and it was drafted in 1984, when chair-side tooth whitening wasnʼt even practiced in the UK".
According to the Platform, not even section 38 of the aforementioned Act - which the GDC usually refers to in their threatening letters to spas and salons - seems to be applicable. Section 38 states, "a person who is not a registered dentist […] shall not practise or hold himself out, whether directly and by implication, as practicing or as being prepared to practise dentistry”.
“Spas and Salons don’t hold themselves out as being prepared to practice dentistry. They offer a cosmetic treatment, as sanctioned by the European Commission”, underlines the spokesperson for the Platform.
According to them, in reality the whole conflict between dentist and non-dentist is based on the GDC's OPINION, this being that they BELIEVE that tooth whitening constitutes an act of dentistry, even though no UK or EU law confirms their interpretation.
The Platform urges the UK authorities to defend the rights of any citizen who chooses to offer this safe cosmetic service, as long as they comply with the law, and further, reminds the Department of Health of their obligation to remain unbiased. The members of the Platform accept that opinions have their place in certain circumstances, however opinion must never override the law, and neither should our rulers turn a blind eye to situations in which the rights of UK individuals are being violated.
The Platform hopes that the Manifesto will give their cause the public awareness it deserves and that the authorities will finally put an end to this conflict of interest, which has no basis in law.
For more information, please contact admin@platformforjusticeteethwhitening.info
To download the entire manifesto, please click:
http://platformforjusticeteethwhitening.info/
Comments
There is legal basis for your comment.
If you disagree please provide the the legal argument and not what the GDC 'believes' or 'considers' Many people used to believe the world were flat, but they were wrong too.
There is legal basis for your comment.
If you disagree please provide the the legal argument and not what the GDC 'believes' or 'considers' Many people used to believe the world were flat, but they were wrong too.
There is no legal basis for your comment.
If you disagree please provide the the legal argument and not what the GDC 'believes' or 'considers' Many people used to believe the world were flat, but they were wrong too.
This was interesting too. How do the GDC have time to bother with Teeth Whitening cases, when there are far more serious medical matters not being attended to.
http://www.ukqcs.co.uk/news/551/15/GDC-fails-to-monitor-dentists-breaches/
Babtac a few years ago were talking of over four hundred cases of beauticians being sued because of tooth whitening.