What You Need to Know About Dental Therapists

Feb 9, 2024
This past legislative session, the Florida Dental Association (FDA) was successful in defeating legislation that would have allowed a high school graduate with three years of dental therapy training extract permanent teeth, perform partial root canals and administer local anesthesia under the general supervision of a dentist.
How has the FDA prepared for the dental therapist threat to Florida?

The FDA understands the importance of an informed Legislature. This year’s goal was to help legislators understand the significance of the education and training dentists go through before they are licensed to practice dentistry. The groundwork of educating legislators is essential to helping them understand the difference between a dentist and the proposed legislation for dental therapists.

The FDA’s “The Root of …” campaign specifically outlined the number of years dentists attend dental school, in addition to any specialty training for specialists, before they are licensed to practice dentistry in Florida. Click here for “The Root of …” flyer on education and training. Advocates for dental therapists say that this mid-level provider is just like nurse practitioners and physician assistants for physicians. This is not true. As a part of “The Root of …” campaign, the FDA outlines the false comparison of dental therapists to nurse practitioners and physician assistants to help educate legislators. Click here for a copy of the flyer on false comparisons.

So where are dental therapists practicing in the United States?

Dental health aide therapists (DHATs) have been practicing in Alaska for years and aren’t necessarily the typical dental therapist you’ve been hearing about based on their limited training. In 2009, legislation passed in Minnesota that authorized dental therapists to practice. The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry administers a dental therapy program, while the Metropolitan State University and Normandale Community College administers an advanced dental therapy program. Washington state authorized dental therapists to work exclusively in Indian health programs only on tribal lands. Oregon passed legislation to allow for a pilot program called the Oregon Tribes Dental Health Aide Therapist Pilot Project, which recently failed a site visit by the Oregon Health Authority. There were several findings and items cited in the report that need further clarification and ultimately rendered the program suspended until further notice. Click here to view a copy of the report. For additional information on the Oregon Tribes Dental Health Aide Therapist Pilot Project, click here.  

Vermont passed legislation in 2016 but doesn’t have any programs credentialed to teach the dental therapy curriculum. However, Vermont Technical College recently received a $400,000 federal grant to help start their dental therapy program. The program is expected to take in 10 students in spring 2020. Maine passed dental therapist legislation in 2014 and still doesn’t have any programs credentialed to train or license dental therapists. Just recently, Arizona passed legislation authorizing dental therapists and legislation is pending in Massachusetts. Each dental therapy program passed in each state is different. Many have limitations or requirements on where dental therapists can practice or who they can see.

Florida is still a target and the groups who have been pushing dental therapist legislation are working around the clock to get support from legislators. There will need to be a strong grassroots presence to stop this effort. After the November elections, there will be a whole new class of freshman legislators we will have to educate. We will need your help. If you want to get involved, please contact Chief Legislative Officer Joe Anne Hart at jahart@floridadental.org or 850.350.7205.

Capital Report, Vol. 25, No. 11 - July 30, 2018