Dental Hygienists in Ontario May Now Work Independently of Dentists
Bill 171, the Health System Improvements Act, 2007, introduced many changes to health care services in Ontario. Effective September 1, 2007, legislation was passed to allow dental hygienists to initiate certain procedures like scaling or root planning (SRP) independent of a dentist when the patient does not have medical contradictions (e.g. medical conditions requiring antibiotics prior to SRP, unstable health conditions etc.)
Dental hygienists who wish to practice independently must follow Standards of Practice Protocol recently developed by the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO). The objective of the Protocol is to assure the public that dental hygienists who practice independently do so as safely and effectively as if performed under an order from a dentist. Dental hygienists cannot self–initiate SRP unless they apply to CDHO, pay a $75 application fee and receive authorization from the CDHO. The authorization requires the completion of one of three “streams”, depending on the dental hygienist’s experience.
At this point in time, the proposed hygienist fees in Ontario are lower than dental fees. Please keep in mind that although procedure costs may be lower, a plan member may still need to see a dentist for certain procedures. Savings may not be realized in all cases.
It is important to note that unless you choose to include a dental hygienist as an eligible provider on your benefits plan, submitted claims may be denied. Please contact your Selectpath advisor if you wish to discuss this plan design alternative.
Source: Green Shield Canada, The Inside Story; January 2008
