Tooth whitening procedures can be carried out by dental hygienists and dental therapists, the General Dental Council has confirmed.
The GDC said that such members of a dental team can carry out tooth whitening on the prescription of a dentist as long as they have the necessary additional skills.
The clarification from the GDC follows its public consultation on the scope of practice of the dental team earlier this year, which sought views on which groups of dental professionals should be able to do what, including tooth whitening .
"This explanation should provide clarity to registrants who advised us that they wanted clearer guidance on which members of the dental team could carry out tooth whitening," explained GDC President Hew Mathewson.
"This clarification, however, does not alter the GDC's position that tooth whitening carried out by non dental professionals is illegal," he stressed.
The GDC also confirmed that taking impressions to a dentist's prescription and making bleaching trays to a dentist's prescription are within the range of additional skills for dental nurses .
