Cosmetic whitening, and where the line is
What you are allowed to do, what you are not, and why that boundary protects you.
What you will learn
- The difference between what you do and what a dentist does
- Why you never diagnose, and what to say instead
- When to send somebody to their dentist
You are not a dentist, and that is the point
A dentist works with high concentrations, usually 22% to 38% hydrogen peroxide. At that strength the gums have to be protected with a gingival barrier, a resin painted along the gum line and cured hard before any gel goes on.
You work at 16%. It is the highest concentration used in cosmetic whitening and it is deliberately below the level that needs a barrier. That is why your treatment takes an hour in a salon chair instead of a surgery.
You never diagnose
You are not allowed to tell a client what is wrong with their teeth. You are allowed to recognise something and decline to treat it. Those are different acts and only one of them is yours.
The words that keep you safe are simple. "I am not able to treat that, and I would like you to see your dentist first." You have not named a condition. You have declined a treatment, which is entirely your right.
If a client is unsure whether they are a candidate, tell them to have a cleaning or a checkup before their appointment. Their dentist is the only person who can judge the health of their teeth.
On the exam. This lesson answers question 1.