Australasian Dental Practice

Saturday, 15 February, 2025

31 Jan 2013 | Australasian Dental Practice

news > Spectrum > Page 20

New teeth whitening product laws to end confusion about concentrations

Whitening Teeth whitening

New laws that will come into force on 1 May 2013 will conclude the more than yearlong debate over regulations governing the supply of teeth whitening products. Importantly, in a win for dental practitioners, no restrictions will be placed on the concentrations of peroxide-based whitening products either used in dental practices or dispensed from practices as part of take-home treatments.


"This decision is welcomed by the Australian Dental Industry Association as it ends the confusion that has existed over which teeth whitening products can be sold in Australia," said Troy Williams, ADIA Chief Executive Officer.

"This is a sensible decision that enables appropriate patient access to teeth whitening products and puts in place proper measures to ensure patient safety," Mr Williams said.

In line with current arrangements, the new laws will continue to permit over-the-counter sales of teeth whitening products containing 6% or less hydrogen peroxide and 18% or less carbamide peroxide.

The major change is that teeth whitening products containing higher concentrations must be supplied solely by registered dental practitioners as part of their dental practice. The practical outcome is that a dentist can both use higher-strength teeth whitening products for treatment within their surgery and also include these products as part of take home kits supplied to patients.

"Ultimately, the decision whether or not to supply these higher-strength teeth whitening products to patients rests on the professional judgment of registered dental practitioners in line with their commitment to safe, high quality professional oral care," Mr Williams said.

Reflecting upon the framework in which the new regulatory standards were created, Mr Williams said it was pleasing that views from all interested parties were taken into account.

"Dentists, suppliers and other stakeholders had different views and each group was afforded ample opportunity to tender these for consideration. The new laws reflect a balanced, evidence-based approach and is one we endorse," Mr Williams said.

According to Australian Dental Industry Association, the outcome reflects the Association's support for a regulatory framework for dental product that is based on a risk management approach designed to ensure public health and safety, while at the same time freeing industry from any unnecessary regulatory burden.

Stream the latest dental videos...
COVID-19 update: 27 March 2020

Upcoming Events...

Jan 01 2025
Feb 18 2025

Siberian Dental Forum 2025

Krasnoyarsk, RUSSIA

Feb 27 2025

Maximising Recall Compliance

Live Online, AUSTRALIA

Feb 28 2025
Mar 04 2025
Mar 12 2025
Mar 15 2025
Mar 18 2025

TRIOS Café Webinar - A-Z Cosmetic Workflow with TRIOS

Australia & New Zealand, AUSTRALIA

Mar 19 2025

ITI Congress Colombia

Bogota, COLOMBIA

Mar 21 2025
Mar 21 2025

ITI Congress UK & Ireland

Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM

Mar 22 2025
Mar 24 2025
Mar 25 2025

IDS 2025

Cologne, GERMANY

Mar 29 2025
Apr 02 2025
Apr 10 2025
Apr 12 2025

ITI Congress Southern Africa

Cape Town, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Apr 15 2025
Apr 15 2025
Apr 17 2025

Dental Forum 2025

London, UNITED KINGDOM

May 01 2025
May 08 2025
May 12 2025
May 22 2025

ICOMS 2025

Singapore, SINGAPORE

May 23 2025

Famdent Show Mumbai 2025

Mumbai, INDIA

May 26 2025
May 28 2025
May 30 2025
Jun 07 2025
Jun 09 2025
Jun 11 2025
Jun 21 2025
Jun 25 2025
Jun 27 2025

ICOI Asia Pacific Congress 2025

Deagu, KOREA, SOUTH

Aug 01 2025
Sep 13 2025
Sep 20 2025
Oct 16 2025

ADOHTA-DHAA 2025 National Congress

Gold Coast, AUSTRALIA

Mar 20 2026
Apr 17 2026

IDEM Singapore 2026

Singapore, SINGAPORE