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The Irish Dental Association is very concerned about unqualified teams performing tooth whitening and is calling for tougher controls in Ireland, so only dental professionals can administer it and deal with any necessary aftercare correctly.

Countrywide, dentists are receiving complaints from people suffering from a range or problems post-treatment, from burning gums to permanent damage after using some services in high streets and shopping centres.

With an increasing number of people having their teeth whitened on a regular basis, the public is bombarded with ‘online’ coupons and vouchers offering a discounted service on whitening. These are often run by teeth-whitening companies who describe their treatment or service as cosmetic, not dental, and therefore it is often administered by staff with no dental training.

Under new regulations by the European Commission to regulate the use of hydrogen peroxide (the chemical used in tooth whitening) there will be more preventative measures in place to guarantee patient safety, which is paramount.

Certain brands of teeth whitening and bleaching products, available online, contain very dangerous levels of hydrogen peroxide, and these could be extremely harmful in the wrong hands. Some competitor products, on the other hand, contain very low levels of hydrogen peroxide, so there would be little difference to your teeth post-treatment. It is also important to note that many of these teeth whitening companies have no indemnity, they are not insured and if you do have any problems or issues post-treatment, there is very little you can do if the company decide to close shop once your treatment is complete.

*Anne, 36, from Cavan, had her whitening treatment performed at a clinic in Dublin City Centre in May 2011. She came to our clinic one month later with severe burns to her gums and root infections on two of her teeth. What she had perceived as sensitivity straight after her treatment, had ended up as a serious infection. She was distraught and needed to undergo treatment to alleviate her symptoms immediately.

"Dentists must perform a full dental check-up to make sure you have healthy teeth and gums with no damage or cavities. They must then the make the decision as to whether a patient is suitable for treatment or not. Some people do not qualify for treatment, and to do so could cause serious problems in the future,” explains Dr. Thomas Linehan of Seapoint Dental Clinic, Blackrock.

“These new regulations will ensure that properly qualified dentists are carrying out what is a dental and not cosmetic procedure, and that safe and quality products are used and updated with any new regulations, after a careful diagnosis and local aftercare as needed,” explains Dr Edmond O’ Flaherty, also of Seapoint Clinic.

“Those under 16 or those planning a pregnancy should also refrain from undergoing any whitening treatments”, continues Dr. O’ Flaherty. “Everybody considering getting their teeth whitened needs to recognise that although whitening is a safe procedure, it must be carried out by an experienced and fully qualified dental team and must not be repeated too often.”