Abstract
In the UK, as in many countries, dental hygienists and dental therapists are registered dental healthcare professionals who are focused on prevention and promoting good oral and general health through patient education, motivation and behaviour change. They are key members of the dental team. This paper considers the role they play in supporting patients through their implant journey and emphasises their importance in the wider clinical team as part of a patient-centred approach to care.
Key points
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Patients need to be informed of, and understand, their risk factors for peri-implant disease and the importance of preventive interventions before implant placement, which are essential to help reduce these risks.
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Patients need to be enrolled onto long-term supportive peri-implant care programmes, including monitoring of the peri-implant tissues.
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Dental hygienists and dental therapists are ideally placed to educate and provide supportive care to these patients through each phase of the implant journey.
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Dental hygienists and dental therapists are able to monitor, diagnose and treat peri-implant diseases within their scope of practice and refer appropriately.
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Minnery, H. The role of dental hygienists and dental therapists in supportive peri-implant care. Br Dent J 236, 819–822 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-024-7354-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-024-7354-3
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