Ayesha Akhter questions why dental hygienists operating without dental nursing support has become normalised and explains the benefits of a dental nurse in hygiene work.
After relocating to the south of England, I was surprised by how normalised it has become for dental hygienists to work without nursing support – and even more shocked that some practices offer higher pay to do so.
This raises important questions about how we value hygienists’ work and the standard of care we deliver. Working without a dental nurse isn’t simply about convenience. It affects accuracy, safety, mental health, and professionalism across the board.
Working without a dental nurse isn’t a logistical issue – it’s a patient safety and professional respect issue.
