7 Years ago James Ledward helped to make History.

In 2003 the Consumers Association instigated the biggest ever super complaint against the private dentistry industry. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigated and recommended transparency of pricing, choice and most importantly the removal of the monopoly of dentists being the only ones to manage the business of dentistry. They also recommended the General Dental Council (GDC) should review the 'under a prescription rule' and consider whether dentists should be obliged to inform consumers of their choice. However, the OFT had no power to enforce their recommendations.

Christina Chatfield, along with two business partners hoping to benefit from the recommendations, set up the country's first high street Dental Health Spa on Queen’s Road in Brighton in 2007. She was passionate about making dental hygiene treatment available to everyone from a high street location but the rules meant that customers still needed to be referred by a dentist which made the financial viability of her business model fragile. So Christina spent the next six years campaigning for the proposed changes to happen. On Wednesday May 1, 2013 they did. Christina's battle to make dental hygiene available to everyone without seeing a dentist changed with the introduction of Direct Access.

This is a classic David and Goliath story but in the intervening years, while Christina campaigned for the changes, she lost her two business partners along the way, her bank wobbled and she was forced to sell her house to keep the business going while waiting for Direct Access to be implemented.

Thanks to Christina's perseverance, seeing a hygienist has now become as easy as seeing an optician or going to the supermarket. Now you can pop into the Dental Health Spa while you’re out shopping and have your teeth cleaned and gums treated without a dentist’s prescription. Historically every member of a dental team had to work on the prescription of a dentist. This meant that to see a hygienist you first had to be seen by a dentist with the costs that this involved. Christina who is passionate about empowering the patient and giving them choices can be thanked for championing this change in the rules which has finally brought real competition to the dental hygiene industry. Christina’s work in the area of Direct Access and her passion to raise awareness to the benefits of seeing a hygienist were recognised by her peers nationally (Dental Hygiene & Therapists) when they awarded her the titles of Hygienist of the Year in December 2012. Christina said:

For many years I’ve had a vision of changing the industry and empowering the patient by making dental hygiene accessible to all. The introduction of Direct Access means that the general public can now see a dental hygienist without having to be referred by a dentist.

This is great! Not only will it undoubtedly improve access to dental care to those who are nervous of the dentist or feel that finance is an issue, but will also give patients the freedom to book dental hygiene treatment when desired rather than when advised.”

On Wednesday, May 1 when the rules changed, I was Christina's first customer for a dental hygiene check up and treatment.

The Spa is modern and fresh and feels nothing like a dentist's surgery. Some people, including me, have a fear of going to the dentist. All I can say is that I found my visit to the Spa very relaxing and just what the doctor ordered. As a diabetic it is important to keep my mouth clean and healthy and just being able to drop in without worrying about a dental visit will make that much easier. I relaxed on a comfortable sofa while I waited to be seen and once in the chair all the equipment was modern and up to date.

There is a nursery for children so mothers can be checked while the kids play. In 2009 Christina opened a children's clinic called Spa Kids, one of only three dental clinics in the south of England with state of the art Oral Insights technology. Oral Insights lets children watch on screen as they clean their own teeth, highlighting problem areas and teaching children how to brush their teeth properly before bad habits set in.

Christina and the Dental Health Spa has been short listed in the Brighton & Hove Business awards for Best Customer Service on June 6.

Be 100% kissable and follow/like Christina on Twitter and Facebook to win a free air polish. www.twitter.com/dentalhealthspa or www.facebook.com/dentalhealthspa Full information about the services offered: www.dentalhealthspa.co.uk You can find the Dental Health Spa at 14-15 Queen’s Road, Brighton Tel: 01273 710831