Since 2013, dental hygienists have been able to see patients and treat within their scope of practice without the need to see a dentist first. Whilst we would always advise you to see a dentist for a full clinical examination first, especially if it has been a while since you have seen one, it is possible to visit the Hygienist without having to do this.
So what does this mean?
The Hygienist will be able to remove deposits from your teeth, including plaque, hard tartar build up, staining and polish the teeth to give you that lovely smooth teeth feeling. They will be able to give you Oral Hygiene advice and dietary advice if required to maintain your cleaning routine at home.
The Hygienist is able to treat all forms gum disease and, if necessary, refer you to an appropriate dental professional should your gum condition require treatment that is outside their scope of practice. The hygienist is unfortunately unable to diagnose or give definitive prognosis (likely outcome) of dental diseases such as decay or fractured teeth or to prescribe antibiotics, painkillers or any other medication.
There will be rare circumstances where the Dental Hygienist cannot start treatment until you have been assessed by a dentist. This may relate to your medical history or the condition of your mouth. If you have your own dentist and they are not able to provide Hygienist services, we are more than happy to work to their prescription if they are happy to provide one. There is a downloadable form in the light blue contact us section of our website
If you have any questions or queries, please use the contact form below to get in touch.
We aim to get back to you as soon as we possibly can.