U.S. Dental school deans' attitudes about mid-level providers

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Health Workforce Studies
• Oral Health Policy

Background:

• The integration of mid-level providers into the U.S. dental workforce is a contentious issue.
• Limited research exists on the perspectives of educators regarding these alternative workforce models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey U.S. dental school deans to understand their attitudes toward mid-level dental practitioners.
• To gauge opinions on expanding the scope of practice for existing dental professionals and introducing new provider types.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to deans of 58 U.S. dental schools.
• A 76% response rate was achieved, with 44 deans participating.

Main Results:

• Over 75% of deans agreed to expand the scope of practice for dental hygienists and dental assistants.
• More than 50% supported the inclusion of dental therapist-type practitioners in the future of dentistry.
• Approximately 75% believed these providers would enhance access to care for underserved groups.
• A majority (50-67%) expressed confidence that the quality of care would not be compromised.

Conclusions:

• Dental school deans' views on mid-level providers are more favorable than those of U.S. dentists generally.
• Dean attitudes appear to be influenced by international experiences with dental therapists, suggesting potential for broader acceptance.
• The findings indicate a potential shift in educational leadership towards embracing alternative dental workforce models to address access to care issues.