Send your letters to the Editor, British Dental Journal, 64 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 8YS. bdj@bda.org. Priority will be given to letters less than 500 words long. Authors must sign the letter, which may be edited for reasons of space.
Sir, I read with interest your letter 'Brexit: implications for tooth whitening' by R. Yee and V. Wong.1 However, unfortunately it appears not a lot has changed.
It is widely accepted that pathologically discoloured teeth can be treated safely with tooth whitening in children,2 delaying this can cause damage to their psychosocial health.
Although the GDC allows its use in under 18s when treating or preventing disease, it seems that we may not be indemnified to do so.3
Whilst Dental Protection currently will allow members to carry out such treatment, under advisement,4 the Dental Defence Union claim categorically that whitening under the age of 18 is against their legal advice.5
By restricting dentists from providing required treatment based on who indemnifies them, could we be creating a lottery style approach to who can receive treatment?
References
Yee R, Wong V . Brexit: implications for tooth whitening. Br Dent J 2016; 221: 211–212.
Donly K J, Kennedy P, Segura A, Gerlach R W . Effectiveness and safety of tooth bleaching in teenagers. Pediatr Dent 2005; 27: 298–302.
General Dental Council, Position Statement on Tooth Whitening, 11 July 2016. Available online at https://www.gdc-uk.org/api/files/Tooth-Whitening-Position-Statement.pdf (accessed 26 July 2018).
Dental Protection Tooth Whitening, 29 March 2018. Available online at http://www.dentalprotection.org/uk/publications-resources/updates/updates/2018/03/28/tooth-whitening (accessed May 2018).
Dental Defence Union The DDU's advice on tooth whitening, 12 May 2017. Available online at https://www.theddu.com/guidance-and-advice/latest-updates-and-advice/the-legal-position-of-tooth-whitening (accessed May 2018).
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Hutchison, C. Tooth whitening: A grey area. Br Dent J 225, 201 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.659
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.659
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