Dental therapy in the United States
Are developments at the state level a reason for optimism or a cause for concern
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13585182 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lisa Simon (0000-0003-4870-1052, Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology Harvard School of Dental Medicine Boston MA USA, corresponding author), R Bruce Donoff (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Harvard School of Dental Medicine Boston MA USA), Bernard Friedland (Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity Harvard School of Dental Medicine Boston MA USA) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Volume | 81 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 12-20 |
| Publication date | 2020-08-17 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Public Health Dentistry (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0022-4006 • E-ISSN: 1752-7325 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/jphd.12388 |
| PMID | 32805762 |
| OpenAlex | W3051263084 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 25 |
Access to dental care continues to be a challenge for millions of vulnerable Americans. In more than 50 nations worldwide, dental therapists (DTs), mid-level providers who deliver a limited scope of dental care under the supervision of a dentist, have helped increase access to needed care. Since 2003, when the Alaska Native Tribal Health System introduced DTs as part of the Federally authorized Alaska Community Health Aide Program, a total of 13 states have adopted the role. However, as of April 2020, there are fewer than 150 DTs in practice throughout the country, and educational and licensing requirements as well as scope of practice vary between each state. Such heterogeneity makes the training and recruitment of future DTs a challenge. This article summarizes the current state of the DT workforce in the United States and discusses the possible future of the profession as other states contemplate adopting the model in the face of ongoing oral health disparities
Dental care · Economic growth · Family medicine · Health care · Medical education · Optimism · Political science · Public relations · Scope (computer science · Scope of practice · State (computer science · Workforce · Dental Health and Care Utilization · Global Health Workforce Issues · Law · Medicine · Nursing · Primary Care and Health Outcomes · Psychology · Gerontology
Weaving oral health provider perspectives to guide future dental therapy advocacy and implementation efforts
Integration of dental therapists in safety net practice increases access to oral health care in Minnesota
Safety net patients' satisfaction with oral health services by provider type and intent to return for more care
Comparison of Dental Care Visits Before and After Adoption of a Policy to Expand the Dental Workforce in Minnesota
Inequity Along the Medical-Dental Divide
Overcoming Historical Separation between Oral and General Health Care
The rise and fall of dental therapy in Canada
The American Indian and Alaska Native dentist workforce in the United States
Indian Country Leads National Movement to Knock Down Barriers to Oral Health Equity
Cultural Context in the Effort to Improve Oral Health Among Alaska Native People
Dental Therapy Education in Minnesota
The Dental Health Aide Therapist Program in Alaska
A Workforce Strategy for Reducing Oral Health Disparities
| Citations per year | 1.25 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2022 - 2025 (4) |
| Highly cited | No |