GDC welcomes High Court ruling on illegal tooth whitening

The General Dental Council has welcomed a new High Court ruling that underlines the importance of ensuring that tooth whitening procedures are only undertaken by regulated dental professionals.

Earlier this month, the High Court overturned an earlier magistrates' court decision to acquit Lorna Jamous of the offences of practising dentistry and unlawfully carrying on the business of dentistry without being regulated by the GDC.

Ms Jamous was found to have performed tooth whitening on a number of patients in breach of the Dentists Act 1984 and will now be sentenced by Westminster Magistrates' Court.

The GDC is committed to protecting the public by bringing cases of illegal practice to court and has undertaken several initiatives in recent months to raise awareness of the fact that whitening should only be performed by qualified experts.

A statement from the GDC said: "Only dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists – working to the prescription of a dentist – can carry out tooth whitening."