Minnesota dentists׳ attitudes toward the dental therapist workforce model

Blue, Christine M.; Rockwood, Todd; Riggs, Sheila

doi:10.1016/j.hjdsi.2014.07.002

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The aim of the current study was to determine faculty attitudes toward and perceptions of the dental therapy model at the same school four years after implementation of the dental therapy program. 6. I believe working in teams allows for greater accomplishment than 52 (81.3%) 6 (9.4%) 6 (9.4%) 11 might be possible individually.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…These findings were consistent with the results of other studies that found little support for dental therapy among all Minnesota and U.S. dentists. [6][7][8][9] Earlier studies on nurse practitioners and physician assistants suggested physicians were more likely to accept those professionals when they worked with them, were familiar with their role, and understood how they benefited patient care. [10][11][12][13][14] If these motivators occur with dental faculty, attitudes toward dental therapy and dental therapy students should become more favorable over time.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…I believe that patients will question the quality of the work performed 20 (30.8%) 12 (18.5%) 33 (50.8%) 10 by dental therapists, regardless of what the dentist might say to reassure them. 6. I believe that having dental therapists available will increase the 28 (43.1%) 20 (30.8%) 17 (26.2%) 10 number of dental practices willing to provide treatment to Medicaid and other publicly insured patients.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, although still a small minority, more faculty members said they would hire a dental therapist in their private practice (9% vs. 4%). 6. I believe that having dental therapists available will increase the number of dental practices willing to provide treatment to Medicaid 30.7% 43.1% 1.34 (0.68-2.67) 0.4007 and other publicly insured patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dental School Faculty Attitudes Toward Dental Therapy: A Four‐Year Follow‐Up

Self

Lopez

Blue

2017

Journal of Dental Education

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This study is a follow-up to a 2010 study at one U.S. dental school that found faculty attitudes toward the dental therapy model were mixed and there was a clear divide in attitudes between faculty members who were full-time educators and part-timers who also practiced outside the educational institution. The aim of this study was to determine faculty attitudes toward and perceptions of the dental therapy model at the same school four years after implementation of the dental therapy program. The identical questionnaire used in 2010 was used in this survey conducted from November 2013 to January 2014. All 254 full-time and part-time faculty members were invited to participate; responses were received from 75 faculty members, for a 30% response rate. Four years after the initial survey, the respondents showed greater acceptance of dental therapists and of dental therapy as a mechanism for addressing access to care problems. A majority of the respondents reported feeling a personal responsibility to ensuring the dental therapy model succeeded (52%); indicated being comfortable having a dental therapist provide care for their patients (60%); and agreed that the ability to delegate work to a dental therapist would make a dentist's job more satisfying (54%). Faculty members who also worked in a private practice viewed the role of dental therapists in private practice more favorably in 2014 than in 2010. This study provides insight into how attitudes of educators toward a new profession evolve over time. The faculty appeared to be undergoing a reorientation on the topic of dental therapy. This transition in point of view may have been facilitated by factors such as continued exposure to the new professionals, information sharing, and time.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dental School Faculty Attitudes Toward Dental Therapy: A Four‐Year Follow‐Up

Self

Lopez

Blue

2017

Journal of Dental Education

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“…Despite the unwillingness, for years, of dentists to work in rural communities, with the majority preferring to work in major cities, the Alaska and Minnesota models have faced opposition by dentists who express concerns about the scope of practice of DTs and their ability to fix dental‐care access problems. The American Dental Association also started unsuccessful legal action against the Alaska initiative.…”

Section: Emerging Workforce Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of telemedicine and mid-level dental providers in expanding dental-care access: potential application in rural Australia

Estai

Kruger

Tennant

2016

International Dental Journal

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Despite great progress in oral health over the past three decades, the rates of caries remain high in Australia, particularly among underserved populations. The reasons for poor oral health amongst underserved populations are multiple, but rests with socio-economic determinants of health. The present review considers international workforce models that have been created to enhance the recruitment and retention of dental providers in rural areas. Several strategies have been developed to address care access problems in rural areas, including the use of telemedicine and mid-level dental providers (MLDPs). Despite ongoing opposition from dentistry organisations, the Alaska and Minnesota workforce models have proven that developing and deploying dental therapists from rural communities has the potential to address the unmet needs of underserved populations. It is more efficient and cost-effective for MLDPs to perform triage and treat simple cases and for dentists to treat complicated cases. The use of MLDPs is intended to increase the capacity of the dental workforce in areas that are too isolated to entice dentists. Telemedicine has emerged as one solution to address limited access to health care, particularly in locations where there is a lack of providers. Telemedicine not only provides access to care, but also offers support, consultations and access to continuing education for practicing dental providers in rural areas. This strategy has the potential to free up resources to increase care access and reduce oral health disparities, thereby contributing to closing the rural-urban oral health gap.

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The Future of Payment for Dental Care

Collins

Friedman²

2018

Curr Oral Health Rep

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Minnesota dentists׳ attitudes toward the dental therapist workforce model

Cited by 7 publications

References 10 publications

Dental School Faculty Attitudes Toward Dental Therapy: A Four‐Year Follow‐Up

Dental School Faculty Attitudes Toward Dental Therapy: A Four‐Year Follow‐Up

Role of telemedicine and mid-level dental providers in expanding dental-care access: potential application in rural Australia

The Future of Payment for Dental Care

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