Dental hygienists are the designated dental auxiliary of the future in Australia. This article explains how their duties came into existence and why their duties in orthodontic practice seem limited in some instances.
Dental hygienists, a class of operating dental auxiliaries, work in Australian orthodontic practices, but their employment is not widespread. The ratio of hygienists to dentists is reported to be 1:40 in Australia and 1:10 in South Australia (Pash, personal communication).
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References
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Health Department, Victoria. (1992). Regulated Duties of Dental Hygienists in Victoria.The Law Printer. P.O. Box 292, South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205.
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MacKrillL. (1993). What Can A Hygienist do For Your Practice?Personal communication & lecture at 27th ADA Congress, Melbourne.
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NSW Dental Board, (1994). Decisions of the Dental Board. ADA NSW Branch Newsletter, June 1994, pp. 7–9.
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PashP. (1994). The Gilles Plains Hygienist Training Programme. Personal communication.
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RobertsonJamie (1993). Some History of Dentistry in Australia. Personal communication.
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WrightF. A. C., HuonN., McCutcheonV. and O'BrienL. (1986). Ministerial Review of Dental Services in Victoria. Health Department, Victoria.
