Dental Therapy in the United States as a Public Health Imperative: Perspectives From the Front Lines

Millions of people across the US-especially in rural, Tribal, underserved, and under-represented communities-continue, historically, to face unnecessary barriers to basic preventive and emergency oral healthcare. Dental therapy, a proven, community-centered oral healthcare provider model utilized in over 50 countries for more than 100 years has been legislatively authorized in 14 states across the US. For over 20 years, however, dental therapy in the U.S. has repeatedly been opposed by the American Dental Association and state dental boards, despite clear, documented evidence that dental therapists provide safe, high-quality, and in most cases culturally specific care, with a focus on prevention.

To describe the role of dental therapists, summarize the evidence supporting their saftey and effectiveness and explore reasons for limited adoption of dental therapy in the U.S. despite documented benefits.

This abstract unifies available historical, legislative and workforce literature on dental therapy, highlights the voices of dental therapists, elevating clinical practice outcomes, community impact and documented oposition from the American Dental Association and state dental boards.

Evidence shows that dental therapy has diversified the oral healthcare workforce, elevating the voices of those that have been oppressed historically in the United States Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities that continue to suffer because of structural racism. Dental therapists have been practicing for over 20 years in the United States, and over 100 years worldwide. Who are dental therapists and why are they not embraced with the clear evidence in the United States? Despite the clear evidence, national adoption of dental therapy remains slow due to political, regulatory and professional opposition.

Significant institutional opposition continues to slow national acceptance and implemnation of dental therapy. Dental therapy represents an effective, evidence based community driven solution to persistent oral health inequities.