Dental School Faculty Perceptions of and Attitudes Toward the New Dental Therapy Model

Abstract

The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry launched its new dental therapy program in September 2009 after the Minnesota state legislature had authorized the training and practice of a dental therapist in May of the same year. The creation of this mid-level dental provider is seen as a workforce solution to help address the problem of access to dental care experienced by some members of our society. However, there is a lack of consensus and even controversy in organized dentistry about dental therapy, one of the mid-level provider models. This study explored the attitudes and perceptions of dental school faculty members who have been tasked to prepare these new dental therapists to do their work. Focus groups were conducted with a randomly selected group of faculty members, the results of which were used to develop a survey of faculty members in all departments of the school. A total of 151 faculty members responded to the survey: 68 percent of these respondents were ifty-one years of age or older; 79 percent were male; and 39 percent were full-time and 61 percent part-time. Fifty-four percent were clinical faculty members, and the rest taught in the preclinical courses and basic sciences. The study found that these dental faculty members believe dentists have a personal responsibility in the care of the underserved but do not agree that the dental therapists are part of the solution to improve access. There was a clear divide between the part-time faculty members, who practice outside the institution, and the full-time educators with regard to the role of dental therapists. However, there was an overall consensus that dental faculty members have a commitment and responsibility to educate future dental therapists regardless of their personal position.

Dental Therapists in the United States

“…The Oregon pilot projects are under evaluation, and preliminary results in both Oregon and Washington, as reported by stakeholders, have also been positive. In Minnesota, the evidence of patient and provider acceptability, education quality, practice capacity, economic benefit, and health improvements is also robust 18,51,58–64. Dental safety net facilities have been great supporters and early employers of DTs in Minnesota.…”

“…In Minnesota, the evidence of patient and provider acceptability, education quality, practice capacity, economic benefit, and health improvements is also robust. 18,51,[58][59][60][61][62][63][64] Dental safety net facilities have been great supporters and early employers of DTs in Minnesota. A survey of 32 safety net providers reported that clinical directors overwhelmingly (77%) supported the dental therapy provider model.…”

U.S. Dental School Deans’ Attitudes About Mid–Level Providers

“…Previous studies have suggested that, despite evidence that dental therapists are safe providers of care, 20 U.S. dentists overall are skeptical of their potential contribution, tending to be concerned about training and quality of care, perhaps as well as about the economic implications of a new provider 2 , 3 . This is maybe not surprising since U.S. dentists have had little exposure to these practitioners.…”

“…The other recent study undertaken in the United States surveyed University of Minnesota dental school faculty members in the first year (2009) of that state's (and university's) dental therapist training program 3 . Minnesota is the only U.S. state other than Alaska where dental therapists currently practice.…”

Did Intraprofessional Training with Dental Therapists Affect Dental Students’ Attitudes Toward Caring for the Underserved?

“…Studies conducted when dental therapists began training at the University of Minnesota found that the majority of current dental students and practicing dentists did not think dental therapists were the answer to treating underserved populations 15 , 16 . University of Minnesota School of Dentistry faculty members reported that dentists have a personal responsibility to care for the underserved and did not agree that dental therapists were part of the solution to improve access 17 . However, despite their views, these faculty members expressed a commitment and responsibility to educate dental therapists.…”