A decision by the General Dental Council (GDC) to give patients direct access to dental hygienists and therapists will mean more and more people benefit from these professionals’ expertise, according to a major dental payment plan provider.
From next month, patients will be able to see other members of a dental practice’s team, such as a hygienist, without first needing an appointment with, or prescription from, a dentist.
The GDC said it has taken the decision with patient safety as “an upmost priority”, noting that dental care professionals must only treat patients directly if they are appropriately trained, competent and indemnified.
Colin Perry, corporate channel manager at Denplan, said the change means that dental care professionals can see and care for patients within their individual skill sets, without the need for patients to see a dentist for an initial examination.
He said this is unlikely to have a significant impact on costs, but will allow patients to have scaling and polishing, oral hygiene advice or straightforward fillings done without the need for an additional preliminary examination by a dentist, thereby enhancing the link between dentistry and overall health.
Perry said: “Currently dental care professionals such as hygienists and therapists are relatively few in number, compared to dentists.
“However over the coming years, more and more patients will benefit from their particular skills and will see ‘a trip to the dentist’ becoming more of a ‘visit to the oral care team’. Maybe the old image of ‘drill and fill’ will begin to fade.”
Link to article
From next month, patients will be able to see other members of a dental practice’s team, such as a hygienist, without first needing an appointment with, or prescription from, a dentist.
The GDC said it has taken the decision with patient safety as “an upmost priority”, noting that dental care professionals must only treat patients directly if they are appropriately trained, competent and indemnified.
Colin Perry, corporate channel manager at Denplan, said the change means that dental care professionals can see and care for patients within their individual skill sets, without the need for patients to see a dentist for an initial examination.
He said this is unlikely to have a significant impact on costs, but will allow patients to have scaling and polishing, oral hygiene advice or straightforward fillings done without the need for an additional preliminary examination by a dentist, thereby enhancing the link between dentistry and overall health.
Perry said: “Currently dental care professionals such as hygienists and therapists are relatively few in number, compared to dentists.
“However over the coming years, more and more patients will benefit from their particular skills and will see ‘a trip to the dentist’ becoming more of a ‘visit to the oral care team’. Maybe the old image of ‘drill and fill’ will begin to fade.”
Link to article
No comments:
Post a Comment