GDC Allow Direct Access To Dental Hygienists

The General Dental Council has approved new legislation enabling patients to receive direct access to a dental hygienist.

The new laws, which came into play yesterday on the 1^st May, allows the patients to access a dental hygienist directly without having to see their dentist first. In the past, dentists usually referred patients to a dental hygienist but patients can now book appointments directly with the hygienist.

The General Dental Council made the decision to permit dental hygienists to provide a range of services directly to patients on March 28^th and the changes were implemented across the UK on the 1^st May.

Lorraine Glasgow, a dental hygienist at Brucegate Dental Practice in Northumberland, said it is important that patients understand they still need to have regular check-ups with the dentist. She also went on to say that due to the new system cleaning treatments are now more accessible. She added that the changes “can only be good for the long term improvement of patients’ oral health.”

Dental hygienists provide a range of hygiene and preventative services, including cleaning treatments, scale and polish, root planing and sealant treatment. Visiting a dental hygienist on a regular basis can help to reduce the risk of decay and gum disease, prevent bad breath and ensure that the teeth remain at their highest standard.

 

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Tags: cleaning treatments, dental hygienist, dental treatment, General Dental Council

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 at 9:48 am and is filed under Oral health. Both comments and pings are currently closed.