Dental therapy is a new and exciting form of health therapy. The dental therapy model has only recently been accepted nationwide. Dental therapy services follow a model that is similar to most health therapy services.

Dental Therapy Model

The dental therapy model provides for the physical, emotional, and mental wellness of patients much like other health therapy services. The Bureau of Labor Statisticsstates that dentists must undergo extensive training including graduation from a professional school of dentistry.

Most dentists will also undergo licensure in the state a dentist plans to work in. The dental therapist program available in Minnesota and other select states allows a student to practice dental therapy with a bachelor degree and certification. This program is not as comprehensive as a traditional dentist program and thus does not offer the same compensation as a professional degree in dentistry.
Dental therapists, like most health therapists, must still undergo extensive training to embark on a career in dental therapy. A dental therapist is a cross between a dental hygienist and a dentist. Most dental therapists function much like a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Much like a doctor, a physician assistant is assigned many of the duties of a doctor, but must work under the supervision of a doctor. A dental therapist is very similar. A dental therapist may perform many of the same duties as a dentist, but must work under the supervision of a general dentist.

Dental Therapy Duties

Dental therapists perform a wide range of duties under the care of a general dentist.

These duties may include:

• Taking dental radiographs or x-rays
• Placing temporary and emergency crowns
• Providing pulp therapy
• Tooth extraction
• Impressions
• Dental education
• Initial patient assessments
• Routine fillings

Dental therapists often serve uninsured or low-income populations. Two certifications are often available for students interested in dental therapy, including designation as a dental therapist or advanced dental therapist (ADT). An advanced dental therapist provides collaborative care in communities and may be more involved in community education.

Dental Therapy vs. General Dentistry

Minnesota was the first state to institute a dental therapy program which is different from traditional dental school programs. The goal of Minnesota's program was to extend dental therapy services to under-served populations including low-income populations.
Dental therapists perform many of the functions a traditional dentist might, with advanced dental therapists performing more supervisory roles than traditional dental therapists. Dental therapists are limited by local and state regulations, which may change regularly.

A dental therapist may work from a prescribed treatment plan that is defined by a dentist. Dental therapists are more widely accepted in other countries including in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. In the US, dental therapists are trained in Minnesota and Alaska. The goal is to make dental therapy a more widely accepted practice throughout the US much like other forms of health therapy.

Work Environment

Dental therapists may work in a medical clinic or other public health clinic. Dental therapists may work in private practices under the supervision of a general dentist. In the future as dental therapy becomes more widely accepted it is possible that dental therapists may work in other settings much like dentists do. Dentists can own their own business, or they may work in a practice with other dentists. Some work as associate dentists when starting out, which is an occupation that is closest to dental therapists.

Future of Dental Therapy

Dental licensing only applies in the state it is earned presently. Thus if you earn your dental therapy degree in Minnesota, it is valid for practice only in Minnesota. Dental therapists practice in many other countries however. The hope is that by implementing more dental therapy programs and by improving knowledge and understanding of dental therapy, more programs will become available, improving access to dental care to the population at large.
Dental therapy may be a good career choice for individuals interested in social work, or patient advocacy, where the need to spread information about dental therapy is clearly present as the U.S. is at a crossroads about whether to create more dental therapy programs in response to demand for dental therapy and the need for greater access to quality dental therapy.