Minnesota encourages dental therapist training
Minnesota state is offering courses for people to learn to practise as a dental therapist; the state is one of the first to actively encourage dental therapists to work alongside other dental professionals.
Dental therapists have been working in other countries for many years and often help to ease the workload of busy dentists; therapists can perform routine treatments, as well as helping to promote good oral health by carrying out cleaning treatments and offering advice and information about dental health, oral hygiene and diet.
The dental therapy courses on offer at many colleges teach people to carry out procedures including tooth extraction, fillings and cleaning treatments. The role of the dental therapist is similar to that of a nurse practitioner in the medical field.
While many professionals are in favour of dental therapists, others have criticised the introduction of dental therapists into the dental healthcare profession. The Wisconsin Dental Association says that having dental therapists will make very little difference to the problems faced by underprivileged patients; according to Dr Kent Vandehaar, most of these patients have more complex problems which cannot be dealt with by dental therapists. In contrast, Dr Michael Helgeson, a dentist from Minnesota, said that dental therapists can help to provide routine treatments at an affordable cost for people from low income families.
Minnesota was the first state to introduce dental therapists to the team and is now encouraging people to pursue the courses on offer at state colleges and universities.
Join this Discussion