Alaska’s dental therapy programme set to expand to other states
The Kellogg Foundation has announced that it will provide funding for dental therapy programmes in other states, following the success of a pilot scheme in Alaska.
The foundation will spend 16 million dollars and the programme will be introduced in New Mexico, Ohio, Kansas, Vermont and Washington.
The programme provides rural areas with dental therapists, who help to deliver dental care, which is designed to reduce the rate of tooth decay. Dental therapists carry out procedures such as filling teeth and talk to people about the importance or oral health and oral hygiene.
The pilot scheme in Alaska was a great success and a number of states have now introduced training programmes to increase the number of dental therapists. The Kellogg Foundation funded Alaska’s first school for dental therapists and will now help out with providing funds for other schools across America. According to the Kellogg Foundation, dental therapists can help to provide basic dental care for those who struggle to find a dentist; there is currently a national shortage of dentists and dental therapists could help to make dental care more accessible.
The American Dental Association has raised concerns about the scheme and is backing alternative initiatives.
Join this Discussion