Would you become a dental therapist? Expansion is on the way...

[RedPill1785]

There's growing support for dental therapists.. the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is backing DTs along with ADHA.. so I have to ask the question.. If technology has really made it so a high school graduate with 2 years of technical college level education could do the work of a dentist who has at least 8 years of education...would you become a dental therapist? What will the salary be like? If they can truly do the work of a dentist(given their scope), will they expand to non-rural areas?

Right now, they can only work in Maine, Alaska and Minnesota, but depending on what CODA says things may change very soon.

"CODA is scheduled to meet on Feb. 6, 2015 when it is expected the commission will have further deliberations on the proposed standards for dental therapy education programs."

The FTC acknowledged progress with legislation in Maine and Minnesota for dental therapy programs, but said proposed legislation in Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Vermont, and Washington should prompt CODA to move forward with establishing uniform accreditation standards.

http://www.dentistryiq.com/articles...tual-support-for-dental-therapy-programs.html

So will SDN need a dental therapy subsection?

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[Dentsss]

Not true.. Dental assistants need 4-6 years of school too depending on circumstance. And I defiantly wouldn't

 

[RedPill1785]

Not true.. Dental assistants need like 4-6 years of school too

This is about dental therapists, not dental assistants.

http://www.dentistry.umn.edu/programs-admissions/dental-therapy/bachelor-program/index.htm

28 months. And you get a bach degree! :O

 

[Dentsss]

Nvm.

 

[Daneosaurus]

Nope. Never understood why anyone would want to be a mid level provider of any profession.

 

[2THDDS]

Nope. Never understood why anyone would want to be a mid level provider of any profession.

if it provides pretty good salary and the entrance barrier is not high, why not?
If you can live a decent life with a decent salary right after graduating high school, it's not that bad of a deal.

But, what I am wondering is what their salary will be. If it's at least 40~50k, I think that will attract a lot of people.

This certainly can jeopardize our job security if it spreads to other states, though.
Pretty interesting.

 

[SM555]

From what a dentist I shadowed told me (in NM), he wants there to be therapists. In these states there is so much dental work to be done and his very words were, "I don't want to be filling cavities all day when I can be doing root canals or pulling wisdom teeth and making the big bucks". He also said (this may not be true), that they would basically be like hygienist, working in a practice under the eye of a dentist in most areas.

Dentsss, idk who lied to you but a dental assistant does not have to go through 4-6 years of schooling. Becoming an assistant takes about 8 weeks

 

[Fondue]

Thought I would share this for anyone interested. The HDA puts out a newsletter and the latest one included info on dental therapists on pages 15-16.
http://issuu.com/hdassoc/docs/hda_fall__newsletter_nov_2014/1

The Minnesota Dental Assoc. states that they can make $38-45 per hour ($75k-90k).
http://www.ncsl.org/documents/health/OralHealth121113webinarhandout.pdf

 

[Ferneezy]

This is about dental therapists, not dental assistants.

http://www.dentistry.umn.edu/programs-admissions/dental-therapy/bachelor-program/index.htm

28 months. And you get a bach degree! :O

do you even read what you link? the degree is not earned that quickly.

to your question: this forum is for prospective oral healthcare providers who wish to be the doctor. not many will be interested in half-measure training.

 

[gatsby121]

Nope. Never understood why anyone would want to be a mid level provider of any profession.

while i agree with you to a point, what about the woman (or man) who wants to work in healthcare but have more autonomy than a nurse and not spend 8 years becoming a doctor? its just the right balance for some people (like my wife lol)

 

[Daneosaurus]

while i agree with you to a point, what about the woman (or man) who wants to work in healthcare but have more autonomy than a nurse and not spend 8 years becoming a doctor? its just the right balance for some people (like my wife lol)

I suppose that makes sense. For me, it wouldn't work. But, I suppose it would appeal to the right type of person.

 

[arkenstone]

If I had kids right now and/or wanted less school, I'd think about it.

It's interesting to me trying to think about how it will change the practice landscape. I don't agree that they will be purely in competition with DDS---there's so much need that they can work together, with more care provided and more business done. But I do wonder who DTs will practice under, who they will refer to, etc... I mean if they're working under a general dentists obviously that dentist will do the more involved procedures. But if the DT works for themselves, do they refer to specialists? I guess so. I don't know.

PA school started in the 1960s. It took 40 years for it to become the kind of thing that your family says around dinner "you ever thought about PA school?" And even now, the doctors who incorporate them (instead of compete with them) do more business than anyone. I mean, you do have to have a certain scale of practice to make it work---and not every wants to think of their practice that way, in terms of throughput and management. But it's doable.

 

[BestDoctorEver]

Nope. Never understood why anyone would want to be a mid level provider of any profession.

It's a great way to make decent salary and demand to be called doctor--nurse practitioner comes to mind...

 

[BestDoctorEver]

while i agree with you to a point, what about the woman (or man) who wants to work in healthcare but have more autonomy than a nurse and not spend 8 years becoming a doctor? its just the right balance for some people (like my wife lol)

That's is great, but now they want to be called doctors in healthcare settings (see allnursesdotcom)...Only MD/DO, DDS/DMD, DPM should be called doctors in these settings IMO...

 

[BestDoctorEver]

If I had kids right now and/or wanted less school, I'd think about it.

It's interesting to me trying to think about how it will change the practice landscape. I don't agree that they will be purely in competition with DDS---there's so much need that they can work together, with more care provided and more business done. But I do wonder who DTs will practice under, who they will refer to, etc... I mean if they're working under a general dentists obviously that dentist will do the more involved procedures. But if the DT works for themselves, do they refer to specialists? I guess so. I don't know.

PA school started in the 1960s. It took 40 years for it to become the kind of thing that your family says around dinner "you ever thought about PA school?" And even now, the doctors who incorporate them (instead of compete with them) do more business than anyone. I mean, you do have to have a certain scale of practice to make it work---and not every wants to think of their practice that way, in terms of throughput and management. But it's doable.

Be careful! Look at what is happening b/t anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist... The PA example is different since PA are under BOM i.e they are not independent practitioners... If DT are (or will be) independent practitioners, and are cheaper than dentists, insurance companies might advise patient to use them...

 

[Daneosaurus]

It's a great way to make decent salary and demand to be called doctor--nurse practitioner comes to mind...

They can't call themselves doctor unless they earn a doctoral degree, whether it be DNP, PhD, etc.

I would advise against using the title of "doctor" in a hospital setting for anyone who is not a physician, or a dentist or podiatrist who have admitting privileges. It can be quite confusing to the patient.

 

[arkenstone]

Be careful! Look at what is happening b/t anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist... The PA example is different since PA are under BOM i.e they are not independent practitioners... If DT are (or will be) independent practitioners, and are cheaper than dentists, insurance companies might advise patient to use them...

Will DTs be, or are they now independent? What do you guys think? Either from a legal or practical point of view...

I agree that insurance companies will definitely funnel them that way

 

[BestDoctorEver]

Will DTs be, or are they now independent? What do you guys think? Either from a legal or practical point of view...

I agree that insurance companies will definitely funnel them that way

There is that saying that says: 'Once you give people an inch, they [try to] take a mile... Look at what is happening with they NP movement... Like I said, people should visit allnursesdotcom to see how how NP are touting that they provide equal or better care than PCP (MD/DO) because of some bogus study they put out there using HTN/Hyperlipidemia/DM as metrics... Some of them are even saying when they gonna have surgical privilege to do 'minor surgeries' with 1-year of post NP surgical training... If you think some day that these DT will not want to get a bigger piece of the pie, you better wake up...

 

[RedPill1785]

I notice no one is addressing the actual issue at hand. Yes, yes, access to care blah blah.

What you all SHOULD be asking is can this DT with 2 years of training do the work of a dentist? Are dentists over educated? Have D schools been exploiting this over education? That's what I want to know. DTs are used all around the world and now in three states with 5 more on the way. Personally, I see a DH as a nurse. A DT will be a PA. A dentist will be the MD. In terms of job prospects, you have to combine the effect of ACA, market saturation, high student debt and the possibility of technological innovation(May 2014 study resulting in re-grown teeth..albeit rat teeth).

But what I want to know is are they really equal to dentists in terms of healthcare outcomes? If so, I want DT to spread...

I'd want a dental school professor to comment.

 

[Screwtape]

I notice no one is addressing the actual issue at hand. Yes, yes, access to care blah blah.

What you all SHOULD be asking is can this DT with 2 years of training do the work of a dentist? Are dentists over educated? Have D schools been exploiting this over education? That's what I want to know. DTs are used all around the world and now in three states with 5 more on the way. Personally, I see a DH as a nurse. A DT will be a PA. A dentist will be the MD. In terms of job prospects, you have to combine the effect of ACA, market saturation, high student debt and the possibility of technological innovation(May 2014 study resulting in re-grown teeth..albeit rat teeth).

But what I want to know is are they really equal to dentists in terms of healthcare outcomes? If so, I want DT to spread...

I'd want a dental school professor to comment.

Dental therapists are trained in and can legally provide only certain treatments... Mostly fillings and simple extractions if I remember.

 

[Screwtape]

Be careful! Look at what is happening b/t anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist... The PA example is different since PA are under BOM i.e they are not independent practitioners... If DT are (or will be) independent practitioners, and are cheaper than dentists, insurance companies might advise patient to use them...

NPs are dangerous because they have their own licensing and governing body, totally independent from their physician counter parts. Right now most DTs are being trained in dental schools under CODA, which is intimately linked with the professional dental organization. If you're familiar with anesthesiology think anesthesia assistant vs nurse anesthetist.

 

[arkenstone]

NPs are dangerous because they have their own licensing and governing body, totally independent from their physician counter parts. Right now most DTs are being trained in dental schools under CODA, which is intimately linked with the professional dental organization. If you're familiar with anesthesiology think anesthesia assistant vs nurse anesthetist.

Good point---I guess CODA will be trying to shape dental therapy into a consolidated/enhanced kind of certified dental assistant

 

[RedPill1785]

Dental therapists are trained in and can legally provide only certain treatments... Mostly fillings and simple extractions if I remember.

True, they can't do everything, but this would free up general dentists to do specialist work as well. Will specialists get squeezed? I think when you get to the nuts and bolts, the dentists have to take some heat for the greater good. Dentists make too much money and/or dental equipment and overhead is in need of serious technological innovation.

 

[arkenstone]

True, they can't do everything, but this would free up general dentists to do specialist work as well. Will specialists get squeezed? I think when you get to the nuts and bolts, the dentists have to take some heat for the greater good. Dentists make too much money and/or dental equipment and overhead is in need of serious technological innovation.

I've wondered the same about specialists. I've shadowed three general dentists so far, and they all do wisdom teeth, implants, root canals, and Invisalign already. And the youngest one can't wait to do more and more. With pressure from more mid-levels, which will take a while of course, I can't see things getting easier for specialists in general.

There will always be a need for experts, of course. But still

 

[jeffk805dent]

True, they can't do everything, but this would free up general dentists to do specialist work as well. Will specialists get squeezed? I think when you get to the nuts and bolts, the dentists have to take some heat for the greater good. Dentists make too much money and/or dental equipment and overhead is in need of serious technological innovation.

I wish this part was true

 

[doc toothache]

This post would have more traction on hSDN.

 

[ajj70]

The program quoted is 40 months, not 28. You have to complete one year of college pre-req's. It also said it was not taking applications for the 2013 year, no idea if they took applications for 2014. I would liken this path to a PA, who, while they have to work under the supervision of a doctor, are not necessarily in a dr's office. Many urgent care facilities are staffed with PA's, especially those found in drug stores like CVS and Walgreens with no MD on site. It's likely that the chain dental places will scoop up these DT's to handle routine care at a much lower salary. Also, if your practice is big enough, why not employ a DT to do basic work, fillings, etc.? If you can offer those services at a lower price, you increase your patient load and with health insurance companies going toward consumer driven plans, dental companies will not be far behind, so it gives you a leg up to be able to offer fillings for 1/3rd of the price or whatever. It might also be a good path for those that can't get into Dental School but still want to be in the field.

 

[artvandelay786]

This might be good for business owners as far as cutting costs and all but it's going to suck for new dental grads with hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt..

 

[THS]

Just take note of where they are legal. Maine, Alaska, and Minnesota. I know for a fact that Maine and Alaska are very underserved, probably Minnesota too. If the demand for dentists is high enough to warrant the growth of this profession, then providing these people some level of care is better than nothing. From the website: "Minnesota became the first state to establish licensure of dental therapists, with the primary purpose to extend dental health to underserved populations."

Would I rather DDS or RDHs in these areas helping the underserved population? Of course, but something is better than nothing. I have a feeling they will work mainly at FQHCs.
I don't see many dentists adopting them into their private practices, especially with a $70-90k salary. They would be better off hiring an associate with full autonomy for slightly higher salary.