Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Dental Auxiliaries Regulations 1986 (S.I. 1986/887) (“the principal Regulations”) which make provision for separate rolls to be kept for each class of dental auxiliaries and which specify, inter alia, the kinds of work which dental hygienists may undertake and the conditions under which they may undertake such work.

Regulation 2(2) of these Regulations increases the fee prescribed by the General Dental Council for retention of a name in a roll from £6.00 to £10.00 (the fees for first enrolment of a name in, and the restoration of a name to, a roll remain unchanged).

An amendment is made to regulation 23 of the principal Regulations to enable dental hygienists to administer, under the direct personal supervision of a registered dentist, local infiltration analgesia for the purpose of scaling teeth, and to carry out other work (whether or not National Health Service work) without the direct personal supervision of a registered dentist, provided that the dentist has specified in writing the course of treatment to be provided (regulation 2(3)).