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Published: Thursday, 28 March 2013 16:12

Written by News Editor

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• dental hygienists and dental therapists for their full scope of practice

• dental nurses undertaking public health initiatives

• orthodontic therapists carrying out IOTN screening

However direct access will not be extended to dental technicians or widened for clinical dental technicians.

The Council approved the following recommendations:

1. that dental hygienists and dental therapists should be permitted to carry out their full scope of practice without prescription and without the patient having to see a dentist first
2. that dental nurses should be permitted to participate in preventative programmes without the patient having to see a dentist first (for example the ‘Childsmile’ initiative in Scotland)
3. that orthodontic therapists should continue to carry out the majority of their work under the prescription of a dentist;
4. that orthodontic therapists should be permitted to carry out IOTN screening without the patient having to see a dentist first;
5. that the work of a dental technician (other than repairs) should continue to be carried out on prescription;
6. that patients should continue to have direct access to clinical dental technicians for the provision of full dentures only.

The literature review carried out by the GDC showed ‘no evidence of significant patient safety issues resulting from the clinical activity of DCPs.’ It also showed that direct access had facilitated successful dental public health interventions.

Evidence gained through meetings with representatives of professional associations and review of documentation had suggested that:

• the current training of dental hygienists and dental therapists is adequate for them to undertake their full scope of practice without prescription from a dentist (although those who trained some time ago might need to update their skills through relevant CPD);
• dental nurses who undertake additional training in line with their current scope of practice should be able to take part in public health intervention programmes without the prescription of a dentist;
• the majority of an orthodontic therapist’s work may need to continue to be on prescription (although there could be opportunities for them to undertake screening using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) with appropriate training) ;
• the majority of a dental technician’s work (other than repairs) may need to continue to be on prescription from a dentist or a clinical dental technician.

Although implementation can start from May 1, various measures will need to be taken by the GDC and others before it is implemented in full.

The GDC has suspended work on the revision of standards and scope of practice, pending the outcome of this debate. These will now be resumed and will report to the June meeting of the GDC.

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