Safeguards needed for teeth whitening - ADA

The Australian Dental Association has called on the FederalGovernment to protect the public by implementing consistent safeguards forteeth whitening products and how they are to be used.

Government policy currently blocks qualified dentists fromproviding take-home teeth whitening kits to patients but allows unqualifiedpeople to administer teeth whitening to members of the public.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission hasissued voluntary and compulsory recalls of over-the-counter teeth whiteningproducts. The ACCC has also issued a notice to the ADA saying that theCompetition and Consumer Act barred dentists and unqualified people, such asbeauticians, from supplying certain teeth whitening products.

The Department of Health and Ageing recently rejected anapplication from the ADA for a stricter scheduling classification on teethwhitening products under the Poisons Standard.

ADA says that this situation prevents dentists fromproviding resources to their patients but at the same time drives consumers tounqualified people, risking damage to their teeth and mouths.