Bleaching – is it my role? Should I be involved?

Many dental patients request an improvement in the appearance of their teeth. Bleaching or whitening is one of the most common. The dental nurse may be asked to assist in the treatment. This article describes the potential problems and pitfalls and how to avoid them, but also the opportunities to enhance the nurse's professional role.

A dental nurse started work in a new practice. She was happy with the practice, her colleagues and working conditions. However, during her second week she was asked to ‘oversee’ bleaching treatment for new patients. She was informed that her role was to treat the patients, although only after they had been fully examined by the dentist who would confirm the need for the treatment and then start that treatment. It was explained to her that she would then ‘pick up’ the treatment and directly fit the bleaching trays, show patients how to fill the trays with bleaching gel and finally advise the patients on how the trays were to be used at home. Whilst the nurse had had additional training in taking impressions and constructing bleaching trays at her previous practice and on external training courses, she was unhappy about being asked to do this as she considered that it was not part of her role. The practice, however, assured her that everyone else was happy carrying out the treatment and that, as she had previously received similar training as the other nurses in the practice, it could be her role as well. However, the nurse remained worried. So, should she have carried out the treatment that the practice asked her to do?