It’s not legal for dental hygienist to do the complete job of a dentist. The scope of job they are entitled to do is limited to a small percent of dental tasks decided by a set curriculum and under the supervision of a dentist. But London is facing a sharp scarcity of dentists! It’s really difficult for patients to find a good dentist who has the time and inclination to take up new NHS patients. But what if you could get the same care for a fraction of the price without a wait for several days? Sounds attractive, right! If you don’t mind being treated by dental hygienists then you can have all the benefits I’ve just mentioned! So what are the benefits of having a dental hygienist treat you and what can go wrong?
With health costs rising and, 40 to 50 per cent of people can’t afford dental care. Out of the population of the elderly, only about 1% has dental insurance and even a simple dental screening can cost about £60 which is just not affordable for the elderly as well patients who are on a fixed budget. For such patients, a dental hygienist who offers home dental care for a fraction of the cost is really a dream come true. In America, a bill has already been passed in Maryland, which will allow dental hygienists to do dental cleanings, use sealants as well as apply fluoride treatments without being supervised by a dentist. And London is not far behind! The degree course has been set up in UK at the University of Kent’s Medway called as the BSc in Primary Dental to provide new skills to dental hygienists to work on their own.

Well you aren’t the only one! There are many people who are scared to death of the dentist but don’t really admit to it! There can be many reasons for being afraid of the dentist but you can’t really avoid treating yourself for ever can you. Today let’s talk about a few ways to deal with dental fears and how to control them.
1. On your first appointment get used to your dentist and discuss your fears with him. Mention everything which scares you and why. It’s not really necessary to do treatment on the first appointment unless it’s an emergency.
2. Ask your dentist to describe the entire treatment process in detail to avoid getting scared of sudden new appliances or equipment. Familiarize yourself with your procedure and then try to relax.
3. Arrange a signal with your dentist so that you can tell him when to stop if you are starting to panic. Don’t forget you’ve got his fingers in your mouth!
4. If you are scared of any particular appliance then ask to look at it beforehand like needles or the dental drill. This way you know what to accept and how they look like.
5. Most dentists keep a mirror handy to show patients the restoration. If needed keep a mirror handy to look at the procedure while he his working. But please be careful you don’t impinge in the dentist’s work field.