Direct access to the dental hygienist 2. Opinions of dental hygienists and dentists

In this paper the opinions from dental hygienists and dentists are described concerning the question whether patients could visit the dental hygienist without being seen by a dentist first (access without referral). Eight of ten dental hygienists have a positive attitude towards the idea of access without referral. Dentists were much more sceptical about this idea. There are different opinions about which treatment, what kind of patients, which age groups etcetera a dental hygienist could treat without referral from the dentist. When access without referral becomes relevant, pilot studies are advised before implementing the concept of access to the dental hygienist without referral from the dentist.