'almost-dentists' and 'almost-PTs' stealing our patients

[mac_kin]

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[KOM]

So write to your local politician.

You're right...there will be changes forthcoming and you have the right to be nervous about the "validity" of your degree. I recommend you buffer yourself the best you can against this uncertainty.

People want to make more while investing less. Why do you think more and more people are opting to go to community colleges for undergrad? They invest a whole lot less and come out with the "same" degree.

Those spending 50K/year for an ivy league undergrad education might pose the argument that their degree is better than those degrees offered by the cheaper community colleges.

 

[KOM]

It really comes down to 95% of the public not knowing the difference between these specialties and wanting to get the cheapest service.

They may want the cheapest service, but they will still expect the same quality of service which will unfortunately decline with the onset of mid-level providers. The public probably doesn't realize this, but with the ridiculous health-care prices nowadays can you really blame them?

 

[zxc1234]

Are we going to have both dental therapists and dental hygiene practitioners in the U.S.? Do dental therapists require supervision from dentists? If they don't, won't dental hygiene practitioners fight them along with dentists since dental therapists only go to school for four years? For example, CRNA's are against AA's claiming that AA's don't have critical care experience like they do. That claim is ridiculous if you ask me for my opinion.

 

[lotexigeus]

sweet, cheaper dental work. 😉

 

[tinker bell]

In all honesty, do you want those cheap patients come to your practice? If they know these providers are not license, and choose to come to save some bucks, these people obviously don't care about themselves or their health that much. Even if they come to your practice, you still do not want them because they probably won't spend on any treatment any way. Focus on getting good patients instead

 

[HawkeyeDDS]

They will save even more money by not traveling to Juarez every winter to get their work done.

 

[Dr.Millisevert]

1) Do dental therapists require supervision from dentists?

2) won't dental hygiene practitioners fight them along with dentists since dental therapists only go to school for four years?

1) Yes. All dental hygienist/therapists are required to be supervised by a dentist whenever providing "irreversible procedures".

2) Most all dental therapy programs are incorporated into dental hygiene programs. They aren't usually separate professions. Another name for this is an "expanded scope hygienist". Most programs that offer dental therapy training grant a 4 year Bachelor of Dental Hygiene and Therapy degree.

 

[zxc1234]

1) Yes. All dental hygienist/therapists are required to be supervised by a dentist whenever providing "irreversible procedures".

2) Most all dental therapy programs are incorporated into dental hygiene programs. They aren't usually separate professions. Another name for this is an "expanded scope hygienist". Most programs that offer dental therapy training grant a 4 year Bachelor of Dental Hygiene and Therapy degree.

Why are they planning on starting a profession called "oral health practitioner" and they could of continue on with the dental therapy profession? They must of thought that this profession won't make it into 49 other states beside Alaska because of ADA?

 

[Dr.Millisevert]

Why are they planning on starting a profession called "oral health practitioner" and they could of continue on with the dental therapy profession? They must of thought that this profession won't make it into 49 other states beside Alaska because of ADA?

Because that new title for the exact same thing was more palatable to the American taste.

A lot of American Health professionals like to use the word "practitioner".

 

[aphistis]

Why are they planning on starting a profession called "oral health practitioner" and they could of continue on with the dental therapy profession? They must of thought that this profession won't make it into 49 other states beside Alaska because of ADA?

When you aren't allowed to use the words "physician", "dentist", or "doctor" to describe yourself, a good thesaurus makes it much easier to maintain an absurdly inflated sense of professional entitlement.

 

[zxc1234]

Because that new title for the exact same thing was more palatable to the American taste.

A lot of American Health professionals like to use the word "practitioner".

My last question: Why did they increase the length of school for this mid-level profession from bachelors to masters? Are they trying to attract Americans? Do they want to become similar to nurse practitioners as far as the level of supervision goes?

 

[Dr.Millisevert]

My last question: Why did they increase the length of school for this mid-level profession from bachelors to masters? Are they trying to attract Americans? Do they want to become similar to nurse practitioners as far as the level of supervision goes?

Again... American system. Apparently in America all health professionals must hold a degree with the word "doctor" or "master" in it. Even if it is an "entry-level" or basic degree in that field.

Is a physical therapist with a 2-3 year "DPT" better at what they do or more qualified than someone with a 4-5 year "BSPT" degree? (I doubt it).

.. but again.. as aphistis stated already, "inflated sense of professional entitlement".. which is extremely pervasive in the American health system more than any other it seems.

 

[rdhdds1]

Why are they planning on starting a profession called "oral health practitioner" and they could of continue on with the dental therapy profession? They must of thought that this profession won't make it into 49 other states beside Alaska because of ADA?

The Minnesota Dental and Dental Hygiene Association has passed the "OHP (Oral Healthcare Practitioner)" formerly the "ADHP (Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner)" in hopes of bridging the gap of the underserved populations.

The program would grant a masters of science in dental hygiene and allow the "OHP" to perform some of the same duties as a bona fide dentist.

 

[zxc1234]

The Minnesota Dental and Dental Hygiene Association has passed the "OHP (Oral Healthcare Practitioner)" formerly the "ADHP (Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner)" in hopes of bridging the gap of the underserved populations.

The program would grant a masters of science in dental hygiene and allow the "OHP" to perform some of the same duties as a bona fide dentist.

I know that. I asked instead of continuing with the profession "dental therapy", why they decided to create a new profession? My questions are answered. Thanks anyway.

 

[Hemogoblin]

Does it really matter if these clinics pop up? They can have all that basic work that I'm not interested in. When pts realize that they have not be properly tx planned, and that they need to go elsewhere for their endo, fixed pros, etc. those clinics will quickly drop off.

Let's be honest here: if they are able to do that scope of work, hire them on and have them do it for you, while you do whatever else it is you like to do.

Cheers

 

[rdhdds1]

I know that. I asked instead of continuing with the profession "dental therapy", why they decided to create a new profession? My questions are answered. Thanks anyway.

To answer your question (which I apologize that I did not do before). It is not a new profession.

I guess in a way it is but the ADHA and the ADA with support of health and human services developed a mid-level dental practitioner in response to the socioeconomic and demographic difficuties thta millions of americans face every day. To bridge the gap of the haves and have nots.

It is very similar to a nurse practitioner if you are comparing medicine to dentistry and the heirarchy that is within both.

Dental: DA/RDA/CDA. RDH, OHP (new), DDS/DMD
Medicine: CNA/MA, LVN/LPN, RN, NP, MD/DO

 

[Aceofspades]

My last question: Why did they increase the length of school for this mid-level profession from bachelors to masters? Are they trying to attract Americans? Do they want to become similar to nurse practitioners as far as the level of supervision goes?

1. People want the title "Dr." before their name, along with the associated alphabet soup after.

2. Money. The more years you spend in school, the more money Salle Mae, banks, and other loan companies get. Don't think for a minute that there aren't huge bucks in education.

 

[aphistis]

Does it really matter if these clinics pop up? They can have all that basic work that I'm not interested in. When pts realize that they have not be properly tx planned, and that they need to go elsewhere for their endo, fixed pros, etc. those clinics will quickly drop off.

Let's be honest here: if they are able to do that scope of work, hire them on and have them do it for you, while you do whatever else it is you like to do.

Cheers

This is a nice thought, but you're talking about a group of people who still don't realize why it helps to brush your teeth every day. They don't have anywhere near that level of understanding, and so they *will* keep going to these places because they're cheap, and while their oral health continues to deteriorate because they don't realize they aren't getting proper care.

 

[zxc1234]

To answer your question (which I apologize that I did not do before). It is not a new profession.

I guess in a way it is but the ADHA and the ADA with support of health and human services developed a mid-level dental practitioner in response to the socioeconomic and demographic difficuties thta millions of americans face every day. To bridge the gap of the haves and have nots.

It is very similar to a nurse practitioner if you are comparing medicine to dentistry and the heirarchy that is within both.

Dental: DA/RDA/CDA. RDH, OHP (new), DDS/DMD
Medicine: CNA/MA, LVN/LPN, RN, NP, MD/DO

Don't forget denturists.
Edit: By the way, how long have they being around? I just heard about this group. How many years will it take for them to be able to practice in all 50 states? Now dentistry will have mid-levels. Who's next? Pharmacists? Maybe there will be pharmacy techs going to school for 4 years to do same things.

 

[tinker bell]

Most patients are not that stupid. I agree that there are lots of greedy who is willing to get cheap care. There are tons of people out there who wouldn't let hygienist give them injection (my patients) or they simply just want dentist to look at their apthous ulcer, etc.......I don't care less for those cheap patients, because I have patients who value my degree and I can benefit more with those. Plus, they spend a few bucks to get cheap stuff done, they will have to spend twice as much for a real doc to fix it, just like travel dentistry. Every time a patient comes in with a mouth full of work done in some third world country, it's like "bingo"

 

[KOM]

There are tons of people out there who wouldn't let hygienist give them injection (my patients) or they simply just want dentist to look at their apthous ulcer, etc..

Sorry to sidetrack, but why do we call them aphthous ulcers?

 

[HawkeyeDDS]

This is a nice thought, but you're talking about a group of people who still don't realize why it helps to brush your teeth every day. They don't have anywhere near that level of understanding, and so they *will* keep going to these places because they're cheap, and while their oral health continues to deteriorate because they don't realize they aren't getting proper care.

Exactly. It continues to amaze me what people will do to save a buck. I've had patients try and pull thier own teeth under EtOH sedation, superglue entire teeth back in, and use bleach as a rinse.

If it gains speed, maybe I can be an expert witness at their malpractice trials.

 

[shabu2]

To answer your question (which I apologize that I did not do before). It is not a new profession.

I guess in a way it is but the ADHA and the ADA with support of health and human services developed a mid-level dental practitioner in response to the socioeconomic and demographic difficuties thta millions of americans face every day. To bridge the gap of the haves and have nots.

It is very similar to a nurse practitioner if you are comparing medicine to dentistry and the heirarchy that is within both.

Dental: DA/RDA/CDA. RDH, OHP (new), DDS/DMD
Medicine: CNA/MA, LVN/LPN, RN, NP, MD/DO

There is now a DNP Doctor of Nurse Practitioner.
We don't call DPT, DAud docs. Are we to call nurses docs now?