This report was prepared under an agreement signed between the CED and the European Commission on 31 March 2010 in the framework of the future regulation on the use of TWPs (Directive 2011/84/EU later repealed by Regulation 1223/2009).

The agreement was signed to support the ongoing availability of TWPs on EU market, to ensure that patients can only access appropriate treatment via trained and qualified dental professionals (dentists) and to reassure Member States that the occurrence of undesirable effects is followed by appropriate actions.

The report was prepared based on the replies received from dentists between 31 October 2012 and 31 October 2013 who have themselves observed undesirable effects caused by tooth whitening or bleaching products (TWPs) or from dentists whose patients have reported to them the undesirable effects. The range covered concentrations of hydrogen peroxide between 0.1% and 6% and of carbamide peroxide between 0.3% and 16.62%.

The questionnaire was anonymous and only the summary results are reported.

The CED continues to collect information about undesirable effects of TWPs. Dentists are encouraged to reply to the ongoing survey through their national associations; more information is available here.  

The 2012-2013 report is available here.