Patients burned by teeth bleaching

Patients are having emergency skin grafts for burns caused by botched cosmetic dental treatment.

At least 12 people have been treated at St George's Hospital in Tooting for severe gum damage caused by chemicals used in teeth-whitening.

Experts at the hospital's restorative surgery unit blame a new type of treatment called "power bleaching" which uses highstrength chemicals.

Dentists have already raised concerns about untrained clinic staff leaving patients' teeth discoloured by teeth-whitening.

Consultant Dr Richard Porter said one man he treated had his teeth whitened two days before his wedding but was unable to talk because his gums were so badly burned.

He added: "This is going to become increasingly frequent unless the industry is better regulated-Where you have tissue loss it does not grow back, especially if people have thin gums, so you have to take a graft of connective tissue from the palate. The concern is that the bleach being used is the same as high-strength bleach." Teeth-whitening has been popularised by stars in Hollywood, where a gleaming smile is a must. Pushing Daisies star Anna Friel had her teeth bleached following advice from casting agents.

A quarter of Britons have had cosmetic dentistry.

Many clinics use chlorine dioxide, a chemical used to disinfect swimming pools, to whiten teeth. This can strip off the enamel.

The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry advised people only to visit reliable dentists.

Vice-president Dr James Goolnik said: "The rise in these problem cases illustrates why dental care, even purely in cosmetic procedures, should only be provided by dentists with the proper training who can offer proven techniques and expertise."