Dental therapists linked to improved dental outcomes for Alaska Native communities in the Yukon‐Kuskokwim Delta

Abstract

Dental therapists are associated with more preventive care and fewer extractions. State-level policies should consider dental therapists as part of a comprehensive solution to meet the dental care needs of individuals in underserved communities and help achieve health equity and social justice.

Provider and community perspectives of dental therapists in Alaska’s Yukon‐Kuskokwim Delta: A qualitative programme evaluation

“…There may also be additional benefits in terms of reduced rates of dental disease and self‐reported improvements in quality of life. These improvements are encouraging, particularly when considering the relatively short duration of Alaska's dental therapy programme and the small number of dental therapists in practice . The current findings are consistent with a recent qualitative assessment of the dental therapy programme in southeast Alaska .…”

“…The second finding is the continued need for preventive care and prevention‐oriented programmes. A previous evaluation of outcomes associated with dental therapists in the YK Delta reported increased levels of preventive care for children and adults . While this is encouraging, community members in our current study reported continued preventive care needs for adults, especially examinations and cleanings.…”

“…Fifteen‐year retention rates are about 50% for dental therapists in the YKHC compared with 68% for dental therapists practicing in other areas of Alaska (Dr Mary Williard, unpublished data, personal communication, 3 April 2019). Past research shows that there were no more than 10 practicing dental therapists in the YK Delta at any given time . A study from Australia examined reasons why dental therapists left the workforce and the reasons provided aligned with findings from the current investigation.…”

“…In a previous study, we estimated the total number of dental therapist treatment days aggregated over a 10‐year period (2006‐2015) for 48 YK Delta Communities (Figure ). Communities were classified as no exposure, medium exposure or high exposure to dental therapists.…”

“…In addition, YK Delta residents served by dental therapists have reported shorter wait times and high satisfaction with the care provided by dental therapists . A recent study assessing long‐term outcomes associated with dental therapists in the YK Delta found that children and adults living in communities served more intensively by dental therapists were significantly more likely to utilize preventive care and less likely to have teeth extracted . Another study assessing the dental therapy programme in Southeast Alaska showed benefits associated with the programme, in terms of meeting the treatment needs of children and being accepted as local dental care providers …”