Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard arguments from the State Board of Dental Examiners about teeth whitening. Yes, that’s right, teeth whitening was front and center in court. The board argued that non-dentists should not be allowed to offer teeth-whitening services at a lower cost than what dentist’s offices charge for these services.
The board is made up of mostly private dentists, and they are ordering non-dentists (such as spas) that offer teeth whitening services without a dental license to stop offering the services or face potential criminal charges.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) stepped in to act as a referee in the matter, blocking the board’s actions due to antitrust laws. The court system agreed with the FTC, stating that dentists on the board were violating antitrust laws by using their power to knock out competitors for personal gain.
Read more about the hearing and issue here.
What do you think about this matter? Should licensed dentists be the only ones allowed to offer teeth whitening? Leave us a comment below!
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