Minnesota governor signs dental therapist bill

St. Paul, Minn.鈥擨n signing a higher education bill May 16, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty brought to a close a two-year debate over what have come to be known as “midlevel providers” and established a new dental team member, the dental therapist, to provide care to underserved populations.

The Minnesota Dental Association says Senate File 2083 is the result of MDA holding to its principles and will ensure that new providers are integrated members of the dental team鈥攁s opposed to other unsupervised models like the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner.

“The MDA and its member dentists have worked hard over the past few months to ensure that principles for appropriate education, supervision, and scope of practice were maintained,” said Dr. Lee Jess, MDA president. “We are pleased that our concerns were heard and that this new position is a workable program to reach those in need while ensuring high quality care.”

The debate began two years ago when supporters of a plan to authorize ADHPs to perform irreversible surgical procedures without the supervision of a dentist introduced legislation. While that proposal was deferred to a Department of Health task force under the name “Oral Health Practitioner,” the ensuing debate compelled MDA and the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry to develop a more workable, integrated workforce proposal to address the state’s access to care problems.

SF 2083 approves the creation of dental therapists, a bachelor’s degree-level position with the ability to practice in underserved locations and perform a range of procedures, including restorations and primary extractions with the indirect supervision of a dentist.

After practicing at least 2,000 hours, a licensed dental therapist could become an advanced dental therapist by successfully completing a master’s program in dental therapy. The master’s candidate must have the bachelor’s degree in dental therapy as a prerequisite鈥攁n allied dental license or degree is no substitute. The advanced therapist would be able to practice off-site without a dentist being present but would be required to obtain the approval of the supervising dentist prior to performing a surgical procedure. Advanced therapists will have the added ability to perform nonsurgical extractions of permanent teeth with a mobility of +3 to +4, with the direct approval of the supervising dentist for that specific case.

As the state’s only dental school accredited to teach surgical procedures, the U of M School of Dentistry earlier this year announced its intention to create a dental therapy education program. The school, officials said, is the best institution in the state equipped to train dental providers who will practice a single standard of care. The school’s research into dental therapy education included a 2008 fact-finding mission to learn about dental therapists in Canada, England and New Zealand to gain knowledge of the curriculum and faculty; tour facilities; meet dentists, dental therapists and students; and develop professional partnerships.

With the state’s authorization and governor’s signature, the U of M will begin training dental therapists and advanced dental therapists to practice in the state of Minnesota. Other educational institutions will also have the opportunity to establish dental therapy programs.

Watch for more information in the June 1 print issue of the ADA News.