RECOMMENDED LINKS
TanningTruth.com
We Are Sunshine

Dentists Can’t Control Teeth Whitening: Supreme Court

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015

The ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that a North Carolina state board controlled by dentists could not decide who can and can’t provide teeth whitening allows businesses like salons and spas to offer the service without opposition from those financially invested in the matter.

In 2006, non-dentists that offered teeth whitening in North Carolina were sent cease and desist letters after the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners decided that only dentists should be permitted to provide these services. The Federal Trade Commission brought the case forward in 2010, saying that, because of their financial investment as dentists that offer similar services, the board was not fit to rule on the matter.

The FTC ruling was affirmed by a federal appeals court in 2013 and in last week’s Supreme Court ruling, in which Justice Anthony Kennedy said board members were “confusing their own interests with the state’s policy goals,” USA Today reports.

Teeth whitening is offered by many indoor tanning businesses at a much lower cost than in dentist’s offices, who often charge between $300 and $700 for over-the-counter kits, according to The New York Daily News.

Follow the links for more coverage from USA Today and The New York Daily News.

800-652-3269
Canada
866-795-3755