Something to Frown About
My apologies for taking a few weeks off as I was helping plan my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah and two dental meetings. I promise to catch up on my writing over the next few weeks.
While assisting my daughter with last minute details, I was shocked by a very common occurence while walking through three different Atlanta shopping malls -Dental Whitening Kiosks that look like mini-dental offices!
I’ve always been a believer and practitioner of whitening smiles since 1987. Britesmile had always held a spot at one of our malls, but it was staffed by professionals who had some basic training and provided a reasonably good service.
What is very sad to see is the gross commercialism by opportunists who feel they can provide a “cheap service” to an unknowing consumer in order to make a quick buck. The potential for harm is great:
- Lack of training in smile treatments and that existing fillings will appear dark after any whitening care
- Poor sterilization techniques or cross contamination
- Undiagnosed dental problems like cavities, cracks, or abscesses that are the reason for a discoloration in the first place
- Possibility of a dental injury from a burn on the gums or oversensitivity ( who will actually treat it ?)
Basically, the “mall techs” are practicing dentistry with out a license which is outlawed in all 50 states.
Fortunately, the Georgia Board of Dentistry is cracking down to regulate this abuse of public trust and possible mistreatment.
Bottom line: Your smile and dental health are very precious. Having the advice of a properly trained dental professional ( especially if they have credentials from groups like the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry ) can help you see the “big picture” and avoid a harmful experience. Be sure to take a “smile test” before having any cosmetic enhancement to your pearly whites. All it takes is one bad experience create a bad memory or expensive mistake.
Keep smiling right,
Hugh
