Enabling Dental Therapy Practice to Improve Access to Oral Health Services

Presenters

  • Simona Surdu, MD, PhD

    Co-Deputy Director, Oral Health Workforce Research Center,
    Center for Health Workforce Studies,
    University at Albany, SUNY

  • Margaret Langelier, MSHSA

    Co-Deputy Director, Oral Health Workforce Research Center,
    Center for Health Workforce Studies,
    University at Albany, SUNY

  • Elizabeth Mertz, PhD

    Associate professor, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Services, School of Dentistry, and the Healthforce Center, at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Moderator

Topics

Emerging Models and Innovations, Oral Health, Policy

Description

Dental therapy is a workforce innovation that appears to improve access to and equity in dental service delivery in the US. This webinar discussed the origins and evolution of this workforce model, the process of authorizing and implementing dental therapy training and practice in states, and the impacts on patients and providers in Minnesota where dental therapists have been established and integrated into clinical teams over the last decade. Presenters also discussed variability in enabling legislation and the importance of standardization in qualifications for licensure, supervision requirements, and scope of practice.

 

This webinar was cosponsored by HWTAC and AcademyHealth’s Health Workforce Interest Group.

Duration

54 minutes

Event Date

February 9, 2022