Any dentists around?

[ssd]

I have a question

There’s a few dentists around!!

Great. I wanted to ask, how common is it for the dental therapist/hygienist to do adult fillings?

Therapists are trained to do fillings in a year, they do it as an addition to the old two year hygiene course.

My hygienist doesn’t like doing them at all!!

My dentist says shes too busy to do them but ive never had anyone but a dentist doing them before and im not keen on the therapist doing them

It does depend on the therapist. But if you’re not happy then you need to find another dentist/ practice. Or go on a waiting list for your usual dentist?

My usual one has changed twice in a year. I think they are very short staffed. I've been going to the same place 50 ++ years but looks like I'll need to change.

The NHS policy is now to encourage practices to employ therapists to do routine fillings , children's fillings, baby teeth extractions etc leaving dentists to do the more complicated treatment. It's all about trying to keep the NHS limping along without any more investment.

Some private practices use therapists in a similar way . Therapists are trained to do injections, fillings, baby teeth extractions, impressions , x rays and in NHS practice simple check ups . Anything else can only be done by a dentist.

Advanced dental therapists can do the treatment @Lollygaggle lists under Inhalation Sedation too.

Some dental therapists are better skilled at dentistry than dentists OP. I feel confident to state that after 30years as a dentist and 20y of that as a Therapy tutor.

The woman who does my hygiene appointment did cosmetic bonding on a tooth for me once and I would happily have her again
She gave the most pain free injection I've ever had and the bonding is immaculate

I dont know what to do

@ssd I remembered this thread and came back to post
I'm really nervous at the dentist and went yesterday and he said I need a filling, and sent me next door to the dental therapist who does my hygiene appointments
She was incredibly gentle with the injections and I barely felt them, the filling is my wisdom tooth so it was tricky but it looks really good
I would 100% have her again and she took lots of time to shape it nicely too
I'm actually going back for her to do some composite bonding