P384 Myth Busting: Managing the New Legislation for Dental Therapists and Dental Hygienists

About This Course

This recorded webinar will discuss direct access for dental hygienists and dental therapists and the legislative requirements that have been made to allow it to be fully achievable. This includes NHS regulations and Human Medicine Regulations.

It will discuss the limitations of Scope of Practice, how to manage ambiguous situations and what dental practices can legally, and reasonably, expect from a dental therapist or dental hygienist with regards to scope of practice.

Aims

This recorded webinar aims to clarify the GDC scope of practice for dental hygienists and therapists, including examinations and radiographic reporting, and identify areas where the scope may be ambiguous. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of role boundaries, legal expectations, and guidance on handling uncertain situations in practice. 
 
This webinar also aims to provide the dental team with up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the exemptions mechanism that allows dental hygienists and dental therapists to supply and administer certain prescription-only medicines without the need for a prescription or Patient Group Direction (PGD).

Objectives

During this course learners will be able to:

• Describe the current scope of practice for dental therapists and dental hygienists and it's limitations
• Explain what can legally, and reasonably be expected from a dental therapist or dental hygienist with regards to scope of practice
• Explain how to manage ambiguous situations as they arise in practice
• Discuss the implications of the new legislation
• Identify the education and training requirements in order to use the exemptions mechanism
• Review how to implement the use of exemptions within the dental setting

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the learner will gain an understanding of:

• The current scope of practice for dental therapists and dental hygienists and its limitations
• How to manage ambiguous situations as they arise in practice
• The implications of the new legislation
• The education and training requirements necessary to utilise the exemptions mechanism
• How to implement the use of exemptions within a dental setting

GDC Development Outcomes