A survey of the workload of dental therapists/hygienist-therapists employed in primary care settings.

AIM: To determine whether dental therapists/hygienist-therapists employed in UK primary care settings are currently fulfilling a mainly preventive or therapeutic role, and whether the pattern of work they undertake depends upon the specific setting in which they are employed.
DESIGN: Self-administered postal questionnaire including a day-book proforma.
RESULTS: Useable day-book proformas were received from 209 dental therapists/hygienist-therapists. Their analysis indicated that those working in the GDS (when compared with those working in the CDS) are predominantly treating adults and being delegated a preventive role which could equally be fulfilled by singly-qualified dental hygienists.
CONCLUSION: This study suggests that primary care dentists working with dental therapists/hygienist-therapists are currently utilising only a small range of these professionals' skills. Consideration should be given as to whether to (a) meet the wishes of dentists by training singly-qualified hygienists, or (b) develop a system which encourages dentists to use dental therapists/hygienist-therapists differently.