Winter 2017-18

19 nmdental.org The second model which was promoted by the MDHA, was essentially the ADHP, but became the Advanced Dental Therapist in Minnesota statute. Under this program, being a licensed dental hygienist with a bachelor’s degree was a pre-requisite. Dental hygienists with associate’s degree from community college, could attend a special program through Metropolitan State University to complete pre-requisites and attain a bachelor’s degree, prior to entry into a Master’s program in dental therapy. This along with substantial clinical practice experience as a dental therapist/dental hygienist, would allow them to be licensed as Advanced Dental Therapists. Once licensed, they are allowed to perform restorations under general supervision and also some extractions. Since both programs started before standards were adopted by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), the Minnesota dental board developed a program to evaluate these programs. In 2015, CODA adopted standards for dental therapy programs at the request of the Minnesota programs. So far, no programs have met the requirements for accreditation. In 2016, the University of Minnesota program decided to suspend their undergraduate program and began accepting students with bachelor’s degrees in dental hygiene or dental therapy into their Master’s program. Rating the effectiveness of the program in Minnesota is largely dependent on who you ask. The overwhelming majority of dental therapists are located in urban areas, so it would be difficult to say that they have had much impact on getting treatment out to underserved rural communities. The majority practice in Federally-qualified Health Centers or community clinics, partly because they are required by statute to see at least 50% Medicaid patients. Many practice part-time or spend a significant portion of their time functioning as a hygienist. No studies comparing their effectiveness to dentists working with expanded-function assistants have been performed. Maine and Vermont Dental Therapy Laws There are currently no dental therapists in Maine or Vermont, but their practice statutes now allow them to be licensed. Both states require graduation from a CODA-accredited dental therapy program, but currently none exist. An institution in State of the Workforce | continued 2018 DENTAL THERAPIST ACTIVITY continued on next page 