That clinic-- Radiance Whitening Clinic-- located at 221 Miller Dr. Unit 3 is to open for business today (Friday) with the grand opening set for Tuesday.

The clinic will provide teeth whitening, cleaning and scaling, custom sports guards and sealants.

Georgetown resident Leal, a hygienist with 20 years experience, the last 10 at Dentistry on Sinclair, couldn't be more excited to have one of the first dental hygiene clinics to open in Ontario since the legislation that removed the restriction of tying dental hygiene to dentistry came into effect.

There will be no dentist in the approximately 1,000 sq. ft. clinic, which has been designed, Leal said, to be "not so clinical" and have "less of a dentist's office feel."

It has been equipped with all the latest dental hygiene and sterilization equipment and each of the three rooms where patients will be seen include a television monitor so patients can put on headphones and watch their favourite program or listen to music while having their teeth cleaned or whitened.

Leal will see the bulk of the patients but she will also have a couple of part-time hygienists working at the clinic as well.

She said the legislation is good news for both hygienists and the public.

"Now people aren't restricted to having a dentist to have their teeth cleaned," said Leal.

Not being tied to a dentist should encourage people who are nervous or afraid of going to a dentist's office to get their teeth cleaned, she explained.

"Hopefully we can be their first link to eventually alleviate a lot of their fears," said Leal, who added, while hygienists can't diagnose, they will refer the patients to a dentist if needed.

Margaret Carter, executive director of the Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association, said the organization is very excited hygienists can now operate their own clinics.

"It has been a 14-year campaign to get a change to the legislation," said Carter.

She believes there are three definite benefits for the public, one being accessibility. She says it will result in more access for the public to dental hygiene services and under the legislation hygienists can now go into homes and long-term care facilities to provide dental hygiene to people who can't get out without requiring a dentist's order.

Leal has linked with a mobile dental hygienist in town who can provide that type of service in this area.

Choice is another benefit, Carter said, because now people can decide where they want to go for their oral care.

Affordability is another plus, she said, as hygienists don't require the same amount of equipment as dentists so should be able to provide their services at a lesser cost.

Leal said the initial exam at her clinic will cost a lot less than at a dentist's office because there will be no x-rays and a dentist won't check the teeth.

She said the actual cleaning will be slightly less expensive.

The lower cost should appeal to those who don't have dental plans, she said. Most major insurance companies should cover the services offered in the clinic, but Leal said patients should check with their insurers.

In the clinic, along with the cleaning and whitening, she will perform full exams including head and neck and screen patients for oral cancer, chart the mouth and hygienists are responsible for the tissue health of the gums, which she said is doubly important because research has shown gum disease can lead to other health problems in the body.

"If we can maintain their oral health, teach them how to brush and floss, and use other tools they need they can actually kept their teeth longer, and they won't have bone loss and periodontal disease," said Leal.

The clinic, which Leal said she is considering franchising in the future, will be open Monday through Friday, some Saturday mornings and evenings on Tuesdays. Call 905-873-2121. The website is www.radiancewhiteningclinic.com.