On May 16, Governor Tim Pawlenty signed legislation that created a new health career: dental therapy. A dental therapist is a "midlevel provider" who practices alongside a dentist, much as physician assistants practice alongside a physician.

Scope Of Practice

Therapists will provide basic preventive treatment, such as assessments, X-rays and application of fluorides and sealants, under the general supervision of the dentist.

They will also do restorative procedures like fillings and extractions of primary, or baby, teeth - but these must be carried out with the dentist on site to make interoperative decisions or complete treatment if complications arise.

Making Care More Available

Therapists will be an essential member of the dental team. It is expected they will work primarily with underserved patients, in dental practices and settings like veterans hospitals and public health and community-based clinics. Therapists will also work in rural areas, where there is a growing shortage of dentists.

"Employing dental therapists will make it possible for licensed dentists to care for more patients," says Patrick Lloyd, dean of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. "Routine care provided by dental therapists will also be more cost-effective."

New Degree Programs

The U of M School of Dentistry now offers a bachelor of science in dental therapy. Students enter the year-round, 40-month program after completing a year of pre-health professional college course work.

The program combines classroom work with training in a simulation clinic where students learn dental technique by practicing on mannequins. Some courses are taken with dental and dental hygiene students, and students from all three disciplines work together to treat patients in the school's campus- and community-based clinics.

The school also offers a master of dental therapy program. This is open to individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree in another field and, in addition, have completed the necessary prerequisite courses.

Learn More

U of M programs in dental therapy: http://www.dentistry.umn.edu/programs_admissions/DentalTherapyPrograms/home.html

Nancy Giguere is a freelance writer from St. Paul who has written about healthcare since 1995.