Amy Mesilio Peralta explores patient misconceptions about dental therapists and hygienists, highlighting the need for greater awareness and education both inside and outside of the profession.
Patient awareness in the world of dentistry plays a crucial role in ensuring successful treatment outcomes, patient satisfaction and safety. The way dentistry has evolved means that patient collaboration and a mutual understanding create trust and education to make the union between the patient and practitioner positive and effective.
Equally, a lack of patient awareness towards the role of therapists and hygienists can significantly impact access to dental treatments, or even limit the effectiveness of oral health education and prevention.
In 2013, direct access was introduced; a significant milestone in dentistry that enhanced the scope of clinical activities for hygienists and therapists. Direct access increased our autonomy, but did it increase patient awareness?
Misconceptions and doubt
Dentistry is a profession with constant developments in materials, technology and techniques. Nevertheless, one thing that has not changed is the impact of instilling the importance of prevention of dental disease by means of adequate oral hygiene and its impact on general health. This is where we, the therapists and hygienists, thrive.
We are fundamental in ensuring stability, conservation and a better prognosis for all treatment outcomes. After all, no one would build their forever home on unstable ground. So why perform complex dental procedures in an unstable oral cavity?
The lack of patient awareness towards the training and role of therapists, when compared with our fellow dentists, leads to common misconceptions which, in turn, forms doubt. If patients are not aware as to where our scopes overlap, this will add to the misconception that we are ‘less qualified than dentists’ to perform that treatment, making this a prime example as to where the educational gap regarding dental therapists often revolves around the misunderstanding of our training and scope of practice.
Many patients, and even some healthcare professionals, are unaware that dental therapists undergo specialised training to perform a variety of procedures, causing a negative impact on our profession.
But why? The standard of care will not lack, and the quality of materials and technology involved will be equal. We have the same two hands as our dental colleagues. What people do not seem to understand is that we, too, are professionals with an identical goal. Unfortunately, there seems to be a professional stigma which causes confusion as to what our job title really means, creating the misconception that we are the inferior choice.
Without a clear understanding of our qualifications and abilities, patients might be hesitant to seek care from dental therapists, or might not fully utilise our skills, which could ultimately limit the effectiveness of oral health programs and access to care in certain communities.
It is important for patients to be aware and correct the misconceptions and confusions as to when the treatment falls out of our scope or simply needs a referral towards a speciality.
What needs to change?
Similarly, some patients may mistakenly believe that hygienists are only responsible for cleaning teeth and that their regular six-month hygiene check ups do not play a role in the broader scope of oral health care. This can downplay their critical role in detecting early signs of oral disease, such as mouth cancers, and supporting overall dental care. A routine clean is about education and prevention, as well screening for dental disease.
As two distinct dental professionals, but within a multidisciplinary team, we are more than capable of offering outstanding dental treatment to patients within our scope, but what is needed for patients to gain trust within our abilities and skills is the need for change in perception – both inside and outside of the profession.
Dental practitioners and oral healthcare team members need to have an understanding, an appreciation and respect for what we, as their dental colleagues, are capable of. In understanding all this, there needs to be the will to educate the public in who we are and what we can do. This will ultimately offer reassurance that they are safe in our dental chairs, validation that we know what we are doing, and an understanding that we are crucial members of the dental team.
Bridging this educational gap is essential to ensure that patients, dentists and other healthcare professionals fully appreciate the valuable role dental therapists and hygienists play in improving overall oral health.
With patients understanding that therapists and hygienists can handle many aspects of dental care, dentists can focus on more specialised procedures, leading to a more efficient workflow and reduced patient wait times. In turn, this will create more efficient dental practices and happier working environments by reducing the load on colleagues, thus increasing patient satisfaction.
Additionally, patient education will also lead to reduced anxiety and better comfort. Better knowledge of the roles of therapists and hygienists can help patients feel more at ease during their visits, as they understand who is responsible for specific tasks, improving their overall experience.
Read more from the National Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist Day campaign:
- Unlocking the power of therapy-led care
- From prevention to policy: the power of dental hygienists and therapists.
With thanks to our sponsor, NSK.
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