The idea of having dental therapists as a part of the dental team in the United Kingdom sprouted in the year of 1917 owing to the extreme shortage of dentists to work in schools and provide dental care to the armed forces during World War 1. This ultimately led to dental therapists being a core part of the dental team as dental care professionals. Dental schools started diploma programs to train people as dental therapists so they could perform certain dental procedures and be an indispensable part of hospitals and private dental practices.
WHAT DOES A DENTAL THERAPIST DO?
They are highly trained and can carry out a wide array of dental procedures that include complete extra oral and intraoral assessment. They are also responsible for preparing, educating and doing follow-ups on patients undergoing complex dental procedures. They are trained in taking dental radiographs and interpreting them to a certain extent. Application of fluoride gels, varnishes, pit and fissure sealants, scaling and polishing are also some procedures done by dental therapists.
They are trained with the highest standards with regards to the administration of local anaesthesia, routine extractions, preparation of cavity and restorations in pediatric and adult patients and carrying out pulp therapy on pediatric patients. They also take preliminary dental impressions and can treat patients under conscious sedation in the presence of a registered dentist. They are tasked with providing health education and basic dental treatments in public set ups like hospitals, schools and private dental se tups.
WHY VISIT A DENTAL THERAPIST?
There are a plethora of reasons pertaining to why you should visit a dental therapist. With advancements in dental care and the emergence of newer technologies, dentists can now delegate quite a few responsibilities to Dental therapists and focus on more complex cases. This means that when you visit a dentist and they prescribe you with a routine procedure like the ones mentioned above, this procedure in all likelihood will be carried out by a dental therapist. A trip to a dental therapist first will be beneficial as they will do a basic examination thoroughly, carry out routine procedures like scaling and restorations if required. After this, if they find more complex problems which need treatments like treatment of abscesses, root canal treatments, implants, crowns and bridges, they will provide you with proper information about available treatment options and will further refer you to a dentist for complex procedures. This saves a lot of time, energy and is more cost-efficient than waiting for hours just to get a cleaning.
Seeing a dental therapist can be equated with seeing a practice nurse is a hospital before you see a doctor or to a physiotherapist where you are sent for rehabilitation post-treatment of ailments by a doctor. Seeing a dental therapist first will work out in you advantage as you will get appropriate knowledge about your dental health and how to improve it.
So, what are you waiting for? Book and appointment with your dental therapist for a long-lasting and beautiful smile!
