November 27, 2007 Halifax, NS: The President of the Nova Scotia Dental Association comments on the tabling of legislation that enables self-licensing and self-regulating by dental hygienists in the province.

“The Nova Scotia Dental Association congratulates the Nova Scotia Dental Hygienists’ Association on achieving self-regulation,” says Dr. Peter Jackson, referring to the legislation introduced at Province House today.

Over the past number of years, the Nova Scotia Dental Association has been in discussions with the Government of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Dental Hygienists’ Association. “Our main goal was to ensure the proposed legislation was created with patient safety at the forefront,” explains Dr. Jackson. “While there will be significant changes from a regulatory perspective for hygienists, this legislation will create little change from a patient care perspective for most people.”

The dentists of Nova Scotia anticipate business as usual for most of today’s patients. “We would expect to see little, if any, visible change in the general publics’ access and receipt of care,” says Dr. Jackson. “We are hopeful that this legislation will lead to increased access to care in the future.”

“Comprehensive oral health care, including hygiene services, will continue to be available at dental offices across Nova Scotia. We look forward to continuing to work with dental hygienists to the benefit of Nova Scotians,” says Dr. Jackson.