In the past every member of the dental team had to work on the prescription of a dentist. This meant that patients had to be seen by a dentist before being treated by any other member of the dental team.
Following a detailed review of evidence and a full discussion at a Council meeting on March 28, 2013, it was agreed this should change as outlined below. Full guidance for registrants will be published before these changes come into effect on May 1, 2013.
Chair of the GDC Kevin O’Brien said:
"This decision has been made with patient safety as an upmost priority. Registrants treating patients direct must only do so if appropriately trained, competent and indemnified. They should also ensure that there are adequate onward referral arrangements in place and they must make clear to the patient the extent of their scope of practice and not work beyond it."
It should be remembered that:
• All registrants must be trained, competent and indemnified for any tasks they undertake.
• All registrants must continue to work within their scope of practice regardless of these changes.
• All registrants must continue to follow the GDC’s 'Standards for Dental Professionals'.
• Dental care professionals do not have to offer direct access and should not be made to offer it.
Dental hygienists and dental therapists can carry out their full scope of practice without prescription and without the patient having to see a dentist first.
Dental hygienists and dental therapists must be confident that they have the skills and competences required to treat patients direct before doing so. A period of practice working to a dentist’s prescription is a good way for registrants to assess this.
Registrants who qualified since 2002 covered the full scope of practice in their training, while those who trained before 2002 may not have covered everything. However, many of these registrants will have addressed this via top-up training, CPD and experience. Those who qualified before 2002, or those who have not applied their skills recently, must review their training and experience to ensure they are competent to undertake all the duties within their scope of practice.
Dental nurses can participate in preventative programmes without the patient having to see a dentist first.
Orthodontic therapists should continue to carry out the majority of their work under the
prescription of a dentist.
Orthodontic therapists can carry out Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) screening without the patient having to see a dentist first.
Clinical dental technicians should continue to see patients direct for the provision and maintenance of full dentures only and should otherwise carry out their other work on the prescription of a dentist.
However the Council stated that with the potential for further training for CDTs this decision could be reviewed.
The work of a dental technician (other than repairs) should continue to be carried out on the prescription of a dentist.
Dental professionals are encouraged to get in touch with the GDC if they have any questions.