CDHA congratulates Ontario Dental Hygienists - Private practice is now a reality!
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association congratulates Ontario Dental Hygienists on long awaited legislation that
will take effect on September 1, 2007. The Ontario Government is modernizing Dental Hygiene legislation to allow dental
hygienists to practise their own with out a dentist. This will improve access to care, as it will allow dental hygienists
to use alternative service delivery models. They will be able to provide services to the public in long-term care facilities,
private clinics, community health centres, rural and remote areas. Since dental hygienists have portable instruments, they can
provide services to under served areas using mobile clinics. The only situation where a dental hygienist will be required to
work with a dentist is when the patient presents with specific medical conditions. The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario
is in place to regulate dental hygienists and ensure that the public receives quality, safe dental hygiene services.
There is a growing trend for provinces to update their dental hygiene legislation and Ontario joins both Alberta
and British Columbia in having done so. In these provinces, the public can receive oral health services from the most
appropriate oral health care professional, when they need it, and where they need it. Executive Director, Susan Ziebarth
reports, "We anticipate that Nova Scotia will be the next province to modernize their legislation." Dental hygienists are
showing a growing interest in establishing their own businesses. CDHA has been overwhelmed with registration at our first
ever Independent Practice Workshop. Dental hygienists from across Canada will meet in Calgary on September 15, 2007 to
learn about best practices. For more information on oral health tips, to learn about clients' rights and to access our
Health Promotion Database visit "www.preventionprofessionals.ca"
Port Credit Village Times
Port Credit's Community Newspaper
Delivered into 20,000 Homes.
2008
