"Since the new dental contract was introduced in 2006, DCPs have been able to set up independent practices and see their own patients. To date, few DCPs have taken the initiative of starting their own business, but dental hygienist Christina Chatfield has been running her own practice in Brighton since 2007. In this interview, Elaine Tilling asks Christina about her experiences, and how being a practice owner affects her work.
How do you think independent hygiene practice improves patient care?
Allowing someone to take ownership of their own health by gaining access to a service that they would otherwise not, due to fear, cost or lack or accessibility or time, has got to be of benefit. Only about 50% of the population appear to have seen a dentist in the last 12 months, meaning that the other half have not had recent oral cancer screening, smoking cessation advice, or any form of dental care. Often a bad experience as a child - or even as an adult - can carry lifelong consequences: a route through the hygiene services can often be a first step into dental care, and trust can be a great motivator over time. Also, the level of periodontal disease is still very high, and lack of accessible services and lack of diagnosis are key factors. I believe that direct access to dental hygienist services could have a marked and positive impact on this..." Full article.
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