Travelling Hygienist makes house calls to patients in need

A new business aims to bring dental hygienists to the doors of patients across the provincewho have trouble traveling to a clinic.

Nicole Kielly, a registered dental hygienist, and her business partner Joanie Trainorrecently teamed up to create The Travelling Hygienist, a mobile dental hygiene clinic.

Kielly says the pair have all the equipment necessary to set up a makeshift dental office in the comfort of a patient's home especially those in long-term care or senior care facilities.

"We're trying to get to those who can't access regular preventative dental hygiene services," shesaid.

Kielly said mobility issues often deter people from visiting a dental office, and some seniors needing transportation don't want to be a burden to family members.

"Oftentimes, in our particular dental clinic where we work, by the time someone actually comes in for dental care, it's for emergency dental treatment because there's a problem and someone's having pain," Kielly said.

In 2013, the province granted registered dental hygienists the ability to work independently from dentists, allowing them to be self-regulated.

Kielly and Trainorrecently attended an independent dental conference in Ontario, where hygienists have been working independently for years and mobile spas have grown increasingly popular.

Kielly, however, doesn't intend for herbusiness to become a mobile luxury service.

"Our goal isn't to access people who are currently visiting a dental office regularly, it's more to get to those who cannot come to us, which is why we decided to have a mobile clinic."

Kielly said her compact equipment, which consists of a mobile suction unit, air water syringe and a portable chair, all fitinto the trunk of her car.

"It's really non-invasive so all we need is one plug-in because I have some wireless equipment, and I also have some electricity equipment," she said.

Kielly and Trainor have created a website as well as aFacebook page forThe Travelling Hygienist where patients and families can request an appointment.