Dental Therapists in the United States

Mertz, Elizabeth; Kottek, Aubri; Werts, Miranda; Langelier, Margaret; Surdu, Simona; Moore, Jean

doi:10.1097/mlr.0000000000001608

Cited by 12 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Addressing future oral health needs of the population will require innovation in the dental workforce, such as the use of dental therapists. Mertz et al (2021) described dental therapists as another pathway toward health equity and as an opportunity to truly engage the community in responding to their unmet dental needs.…”

Section: Social Determinants Of Health and Intersectionality: Relevan...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sociodemographic Changes and Oral Health Inequities: Dental Workforce Considerations

Inglehart

Albino

Feine

et al. 2022

JDR Clinical & Translational Research

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Background: By midcentury, the US population will be remarkably more racially and ethnically diverse, with a dramatic increase in the proportion of older adults. This report addresses ongoing oral health disparities and inequitable access to care related to these changes, with emphasis on implications for the workforce, taking note of effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Relevant Considerations: Considering that social determinants shape health behaviors, reflection on the most effective type of dental workforce should take into account population characteristics and the relationship of oral health with overall health and general well-being. The dental workforce composition will need to mirror changing demographics, and effective dental health teams will be characterized by cultural competence, humility, readiness, and capacity to adapt to changes. In addition, the influence of social histories and the pandemic on health and dental care utilization is important. Equally important are the inclusion of oral health literacy in treatment planning and disease prevention, as well as oral health–related quality of life in considering outcomes of care. Providing patient-centered care for a diverse population requires tailored treatment modalities, as well as intra- and interprofessional approaches. In this way, the whole person can be cared for, including those with special health care needs, whether related to chronic disease, mental health conditions, or behavioral, physical, and social differences. Conclusions: Changing demographics will affect the delivery of oral health care, including who can best provide care and how, what the needs are, and in what ways prevention and treatment can most effectively be accomplished. The education of dentists must address unmet population needs, including for those with special health care concerns and older adults. These population groups are influenced by a variety of social determinants, and provision of services may need to occur in alternative care delivery settings. Identifying and addressing the needs of every patient within this broad array of new requirements will challenge dental professionals to redefine what it means to be a health care practitioner. Knowledge Transfer Statement: This article describes how sociodemographic changes in the United States will challenge the dental workforce in new ways and points to research and practice needs to address these challenges. Oral health disparities and the changing oral health care needs of patients from diverse and underserved groups are discussed, with a focus on the implications for delivery of care and policies that are needed to improve oral health outcomes for all.

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Section: Social Determinants Of Health and Intersectionality: Relevan...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sociodemographic Changes and Oral Health Inequities: Dental Workforce Considerations

Inglehart

Albino

Feine

et al. 2022

JDR Clinical & Translational Research

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“…48 In general, the addition of selected primary healthcare activities in the dental office including possible monitoring and managing some chronic diseases such as diabetes will require greater use of mid-level providers. 49,50 "By having simple, uncomplicated dental procedures performed by these mid-level providers, dentists will be able to use their more extensive training to perform more complex dental treatments, as well as being available to provide limited preventive and primary care services as part of the overall healthcare of their patients. 51 "…”

Section: Implications Of Perceived Differences Between the Degrees Fo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The dilemma of different dental degrees: DDS and DMD

Giddon

Lamster

2022

Journal of Dental Education

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Although the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) evolved from the surgical and the Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) from the medical (DMD) roots of the dental profession, dental schools in the US currently award both degrees, verified as equivalent by finding no differences between them in standards of admissions, accreditation, or state licensure requirements while continuing to be subjectively perceived as different enough to create professional and public confusion. In contrast, Doctors of Osteopathy (DOs) and Doctors of Medicine (MDs) are both objectively and subjectively perceived as different in philosophy and healthcare training while objectively passing similar examinations to be licensed as physicians.Following from the history of both dental degrees and their implications for training and dental practice, the objective of this manuscript is to update the scientific, socio-political, and professional reasons for awarding only the DMD for future graduates while continuing to recognize the contributions of DDS graduates to oral healthcare.Working with the American Dental Association (ADA), American Dental Education Association (ADEA), and dental school librarians, a historical review was undertaken of the establishment of two doctoral degrees for dentists in the United States, including beliefs and attitudes of faculty and local dentists at the times of initiation or change in degrees awarded. Among the current 68 dental schools in the United States, there are approximately equal numbers of DDS-and DMD-granting schools. Except for some Harvard physicians, some of whom practiced dentistry, who wanted dentistry to be a specialty of medicine and the unexpected, serendipitous substitution of "medicine" for "surgery" which could not be translated into required Latin in 1867, all dental schools would have awarded only the DDS degree. Now, with the ongoing reorganization of the healthcare workforce in the United States, a single degree with broader healthcare connotations of the DMD will facilitate the integration of dentistry with overall healthcare, without changing the fundamental oral healthcare responsibilities of both DDS and DMD graduates.

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“…Seven states recently authorized dental therapy; Arizona and Michigan adopted the policy in 2018, and Connecticut, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and New Mexico adopted it in 2019. 12 In 2009, Minnesota authorized dental therapists to practice in underserved communities, including health professional shortage areas and in settings with at least 50% of patients with Medicaid coverage or uninsured. 11,12 The aim of this study was to examine whether authorizing dental therapists was associated with improved dental care use.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…12 In 2009, Minnesota authorized dental therapists to practice in underserved communities, including health professional shortage areas and in settings with at least 50% of patients with Medicaid coverage or uninsured. 11,12 The aim of this study was to examine whether authorizing dental therapists was associated with improved dental care use. Our hypothesis was that dental therapists, although few in terms of measuring direct influence, can be used as a proxy for gauging attention to the issue and willingness to innovate at the state level.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…9 In the United States, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium was the first body to authorize dental therapists to practice in 2004; as of 2020, 13 states and tribal nations had authorized dental therapists, and many others are considering it. 8,[10][11][12] The primary aim of adding dental therapists to the dental team is to improve the affordability of dental care to expand access for underserved populations, particularly low-income and uninsured individuals in rural and tribal areas. 10 Critics of the policy have raised concerns about the quality of care provided by dental therapists and the overall influence on population oral health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparison of Dental Care Visits Before and After Adoption of a Policy to Expand the Dental Workforce in Minnesota

2022

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IMPORTANCE Currently, 13 states and tribal nations have expanded their dental workforce by adopting use of dental therapists. To date, there has been no evaluation of the influence of this policy on dental care use. OBJECTIVE To assess changes in dental care use in Minnesota after the implementation of the policy to authorize dental therapists in 2009. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSIn this cross-sectional study of 2 613 716 adults aged 18 years and older, a synthetic control method was used to compare changes in dental care use after the authorization of the policy in Minnesota relative to a synthetic control of nonadopting states. Data

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Dental Therapists in the United States

Abstract: Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Cited by 12 publications

References 39 publications

Sociodemographic Changes and Oral Health Inequities: Dental Workforce Considerations

Sociodemographic Changes and Oral Health Inequities: Dental Workforce Considerations

The dilemma of different dental degrees: DDS and DMD

Comparison of Dental Care Visits Before and After Adoption of a Policy to Expand the Dental Workforce in Minnesota

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