Dental Therapy

[BadgerLoveSmile]

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I have an interview at the University of Minnesota for their new Masters of Dental Therapy program coming up soon. I am also re-applying to dental school.

I wanted to get some feedback from dentists and dental students on their opinion of the program. And to dentists...would you consider hiring a dental therapist?

My aim is to help patients in under served areas and I am trying to decide which route would be best...

Thanks for your input!

 

[tinman831]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=502094

 

[BadgerLoveSmile]

I read through that thread. It was discussing ADHP, which was not passed in Minnesota. Dental Therapy is a different program. Whereas ADHP was not supported by the WDA or the MDA, dental therapy is...

I was hoping there would be some input on this new program that will have its first graduating class in 2011 in Minnesota.

Thanks 🙂

 

[aphistis]

I have an interview at the University of Minnesota for their new Masters of Dental Therapy program coming up soon. I am also re-applying to dental school.

I wanted to get some feedback from dentists and dental students on their opinion of the program. And to dentists...would you consider hiring a dental therapist?

My aim is to help patients in under served areas and I am trying to decide which route would be best...

Thanks for your input!

I think it's probably not a good idea to go tell your dental school interviewers how excited you are that non-dentists are going to be allowed to practice dentistry.

 

[BadgerLoveSmile]

Well, in theory, dental therapists will be working with dentists to meet the needs of people who have either a) trouble affording a dentist or b) trouble getting access to a dentist. I would never want to perform any procedures I am not fully trained to perform.

It is my understanding that I would be fully trained to perform the limited range of procedures dental therapists are allowed to perform, if I chose to go that route.

 

[DMDreaming]

Last I heard neither bill that would make this a viable position has passed the MN legislature. Has the school addressed how you would get a job if neither bill passes?

 

[BadgerLoveSmile]

It is supposed to be passed this year, I believe before they admit their first class. The ADHP didn't pass and I don't believe it is an option any longer.

Job placement is one of the things I will be asking about at my interview. I wouldn't enter the program this fall if dental therapy isn't passed in the legislature this year.

Even though the program is supported by the Minnesota and Wisconsin Dental Associations, I want to find out what dentists think about the program. It doesn't do any good to enter the program if dentists don't support it, since they are the one's that would be hiring the dental therapists.

 

[ou_jay]

If you want to help people who cannot "access care" gain access to it, then you should probably become a dentist. If the therapists must work under the supervision of a dentist, then they can't bring access to places where there is not already access to a dentist.

If you want to lower the cost of dental care for a group of people, then become a dentist and do some pro-bono work for those people. Unless you plan to work for free as a therapist, you won't significantly lower costs. Your overhead will be the same as the dentist's (~65%). Therefore if you make only half as much as the dentist, the patient only saves 17.5%. That is something, but not much. It probably won't cause a bunch of new patients who have forgone dental care for financial reasons to rush to the dental therapist.

 

[SEKDentist]

Many models will exist in dentistry in the coming years. We are working on a RDH Model in Kansas which will graduate Registered Dental Practitioners. Both General and Direct Supervision will help increase access to care.

22 years in private practice and volunteering my time to the CHC Dental Clinics have given me the opportunity to know and realize we will never solve the access to care issues without incorporating RDPs, ADHPs, or DHATs into both private and public practice.

A mid level provider in private practice can enable the dentist to start treating Medicaid Children and Adults while increasing revenues up to 60% in the process. The dentist can now focus on the extensive cases while the mid level supports the dentist by treating the less complicated cases.