Cosmetic dentistry is big business, and there’s lots of money in tooth whitening. Some consumers go to the dental office for laser bleaching. Some people pick up Crest WhiteStrips at the grocery store. And (much to the chagrin of dental professionals everywhere!) some people get their teeth whitened at the mall.
Well, Tennessee has had enough. The state dental board just banned whitening at mall kiosks, declaring that only licensed dental professionals can perform teeth whitening.
The president of the Council for Cosmetic Teeth Whitening, Joyce Osborn, objected to the ruling. “The consumer has a right to whiten their teeth any way they want to,” she told the dental board.
Osborn pointed out that, officially speaking, these kiosks simply sell whitening products to consumers. However, an investigative report by Tennessee’s NewsChannel 5 found that kiosk workers regularly apply products to consumers’ teeth, as well as “diagnosing” problems and recommending whitening solutions. Kiosk workers also told undercover reporters that they use the same whitening gels as dental offices.
But while the Tennessee Dental Board is protecting patients, they’re frustrating the mall kiosks that try to offer whitening services. Even after the board’s ruling, at least one Tennessee kiosk refused to close, telling NewsChannel 5 that “they don’t believe the Dental Board has the authority to tell them whether they can be in business.” What’s more, they’re planning to sue the state.
About Jim Du Molin
Setting Dental Fees for Maximum Case Acceptance
$10,000 a Month Chart Audit
DIY Office Brochure
Practice Answering Machine
Maximize Case Acceptance
Maximize Your Marketing: Target High-Value Patients
Turn Your Front Desk into a Marketing Machine
Structuring a Dental Associate Program
Designing the $1,000,000 Dental Practice Sign
Internal Marketing & Communications
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