glad I don't live in Minnesota....

[hookem224]

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http://www.startribune.com/lifestyl...UoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUnciatkEP7DhUsl

 

[BillytheEchidna]

In both cases, they would be limited to working with low-income and "underserved" populations.

If more dentists were willing to practice in these areas for this particular population, I doubt the legislation would have passed in the first place. It does set a potentially dangerous precedent, but unless people were planning to practice above the 45th parallel (can you say, "brrrrr?"), it shouldn't be threatening to them... yet. I'm sure others will respectfully disagree.

 

[srb711]

I encourage anyone that disagrees with the idea of oral health practitioners (or dental therapists) to look into the Dental Health Aid Therapists in Alaska. I was fortunate enough to do an Indian Health Service externship at the Alaska Native Medical Center's dental clinic last summer in Anchorage, so I was able to see firsthand the impact that the lack of dentists in an area has on the oral health of that population; and the Dental Health Aid Therapists are able provide basic dental care to these people.

Many dentists, after busting their tails through undergrad and then dental school, choose to work in private practice in non underserved areas. While there is nothing wrong with that, it does not help the underserved populations. So while it may seem that these practitioners may pose a threat to dentistry, they will only be in areas that need them and will only perform the most minor of procedures. As long as they're trained well, they will help meet some of the dental needs of underserved Americans... and I see nothing wrong with that. Like BillytheEchidna said, if more dentists were willing to practice in these areas, this would not even be an issue.

 

[Aceofspades]

In both cases, they would be limited to working with low-income and "underserved" populations.

Hahahaha! OK, sure... let's see how long before they start branching off into desirable big money metropolitan areas and abandon the underserved dumps.

 

[Waitlisted2009]

.

 

[BillytheEchidna]

Aceofspades, that was a direct quote from the article (hence, the italics). It's built into the law.

 

[old-school]

Here it goes...this is always a fun topic.

 

[Quattro DMD]

I encourage anyone that disagrees with the idea of oral health practitioners (or dental therapists) to look into the Dental Health Aid Therapists in Alaska. I was fortunate enough to do an Indian Health Service externship at the Alaska Native Medical Center's dental clinic last summer in Anchorage, so I was able to see firsthand the impact that the lack of dentists in an area has on the oral health of that population; and the Dental Health Aid Therapists are able provide basic dental care to these people.

Many dentists, after busting their tails through undergrad and then dental school, choose to work in private practice in non underserved areas. While there is nothing wrong with that, it does not help the underserved populations. So while it may seem that these practitioners may pose a threat to dentistry, they will only be in areas that need them and will only perform the most minor of procedures. As long as they're trained well, they will help meet some of the dental needs of underserved Americans... and I see nothing wrong with that. Like BillytheEchidna said, if more dentists were willing to practice in these areas, this would not even be an issue.

A lot of people in a Alaska live in geographically isolated villges, making Dental Health Therapists a great tool. I believe they sent them to New Zealand to be trained, as they have been utilizing them for years, particularly in primary schools. Overall it comes down to money, dentists and the ADA are concerned about protecting pocket books.

 

[Zubnaya Feya]

Everyone is looking out for themselves. The dentists are scared their pocket books might take a hit not caring that these people will have no treatment without these dental therapists

It is reasonable to think about "pocket books" with possible 300-400k loans out of school, don't you think so?

Otherwise, dental therapists is a tempting idea if it is worked out well.