Under the pending dental contract reform, suitably trained, competent, confident, and indemnified dental nurses will be able to apply fluoride varnish to children aged 16 or under between appointments for an examination in England. This will be under prescription and in accordance with a schedule of treatment that follows the Delivering Better Oral Health Toolkit and is no less than 3 months apart. What does this mean to you? Dental Nurses will be able to see patients without the dentist seeing them first on every visit. Dental hygienists and dental therapists currently cannot refer or delegate these duties to a dental nurse.
Image [NHSE NW] Advancing Dental Care PPP unpublished
Dental Nurses will be able to open and close a course of treatmentwithin the NHS BSA contract and payment management system. This is a new sub-band 1 course of treatment, payable at 0.5 UDAs.
This is a huge step forward in the right direction, but ensure your training is up to date, robust, and meets the GDC provider guidelines for quality and continual professional development; that you are confident and competent; and that your indemnity covers you for this as an additional duty. Some indemnity companies will charge an additional fee.
For further information, click on the following link https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/preparing-for-nhs-dental-quality-and-payment-contract-reforms/