Last Updated on 2nd March 2017
Dr Richard Colebourne, the principal dentist at Evesham Dental Health Team on Broadway Road is keen to explain the role of his dental therapists, Julie Coop and Katharine Moulton.
Dental therapists are trained alongside dentists. Historically they worked exclusively in community and hospital settings but more than ten years ago the General Dental Council decided their skills and experience would be valuable to NHS and private dental practices.
Like medical teams, dental teams have evolved over the last decade. In doctors’ surgeries, nurses now carry out routine tests, give vaccinations and take blood, leaving the doctors more time to focus on more complex diagnosis.
In dental practices, dental therapists are amply qualified to carry out a range of routine dental procedures, allowing dentists to concentrate on more advanced treatments, such as endodontics, dental implants, orthodontics and facial aesthetics.
A registered dentist must still examine the patient, diagnose and indicate within a written prescription the course of treatment that the dental therapist is to carry out. And like dentists, dental therapists strictly adhere to the GDC’s standards of dental care.
Julie and Katharine’s roles are wide reaching and include the prevention and management of dental decay, as well as tooth whitening, oral cancer screening and impression taking. Dental therapists are qualified to perform more complex hygiene therapy, apply fissure sealants and fluoride treatments, extract milk teeth and fill teeth in both adults and children.
If you would like to learn more about our dental therapists and their role at Evesham Dental Health Team, please ask at your next appointment or contact us.
