The government Bill, tabled by George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, supports the 1995 and 1996 recommendations of the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC) to amend the Dental Hygiene Act that will provide the public with greater access to dental hygiene services. Dental hygienists will be able to clean teeth in establishments separate and apart from dental offices, without a dentist's order subject to regulations established by the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO).

According to research statistics, six million people in Ontario do not see a dentist for a variety of reasons including cost, illness, age, low income or they live in remote areas or are residents in long-term care homes and are physically unable to travel to a traditional dental office.

"We are very excited about our progress on this issue. It has taken 14 years of ceaseless effort on the part of many to reach this point in our mission to remove barriers to our services," said ODHA President Penny White.

Over the past several months, Minister Smitherman and his staff at Queen's Park have worked with ODHA to move the Bill forward. "We appreciate the Minister's support and are especially pleased that Premier McGuinty is fulfilling his 2003 campaign promise to act on HPRAC recommendations that will give the public the right to choose their healthcare provider and access affordable dental hygiene services where and when they need it."

For the Bill to become enacted into law, it must receive three readings in the legislature and then royal assent. "The timing of this process is uncertain, and we still have considerable work ahead of us," she added.

At second reading, the Bill, if passed, will be referred to a Standing Committee at which time members of the public and healthcare groups have an opportunity to submit written and verbal comments. The Standing Committee will report back to the legislature with recommendations based on a review of the issue and request third and final reading.

Dental hygienists are regulated by the CDHO, which ensures competent, safe dental hygiene care for the public. Dental hygiene is one of the largest regulated healthcare professions in the province. Currently, there are close to 8,500 practising dental hygienists in Ontario.

SOURCE: Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association

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