Dental hygienists and dental therapists can carry out tooth whitening on the prescription of a dentist, the GDC has advised.

In a statement issued in July the GDC said this was subject to hygienists and therapists having ‘the necessary additional skills’. The advice follows a consultation exercise on the scope of practice of the dental team. ‘This clarification does not, however, alter the GDC's position that tooth whitening carried out by non-dental professionals is illegal,’ said GDC president Hew Mathewson.

The Dental Defence Union (DDU) confirmed that it would provide indemnity insurance for dental therapists and hygienists carrying out tooth whitening.

The GDC has also decided that taking impressions to a dentist's prescription and making bleaching trays to a dentist's prescription are within the scope of dental nurses.