Dental Therapy

Wisconsin welcomes a new member to the dental team – dental therapists

Dental therapists are highly trained oral health practitioners that work with dental teams, similar to the way a Physicians’ assistant works with a medical team. Through off-site supervision by a dentist, dental therapists can increase access to care by delivering services in settings that better meet the needs of communities that are underserved – such as in remote clinics, schools and senior residential care facilities.

Along with providing education and preventative services, dental therapists are able to perform common dental procedures such as filling cavities, and in limited cases, removing teeth.

Dental Professionals Comparison Chart

Dental Therapy 101

Licensure of Dental Therapists in Wisconsin

Legislative Information

What is a dental therapist?

Dental therapists are highly trained and licensed providers who work under the supervision of a dentist to deliver routine dental care, such as exams and fillings.

These professionals are a valuable addition to a dentist-led team, complementing the efforts of dental hygienists and dental assistants. By taking on routine procedures, dental therapists allow dentists to focus on more complex care. Dental therapists have been an integral part of dental care worldwide for a century. In the U.S., the first dental therapy program was launched by Alaska Native and American Indian leaders to address chronic dentist shortages in their communities.

What are the roles and responsibilities of a dental therapist?

Routine Dental Procedures

Exams and prevention services: Dental therapists perform routine dental examinations and prevention services.
Cavity preparation and fillings: They are trained to prepare and fill cavities.
Simple Extractions: They handle straightforward tooth extractions when necessary.

Community Education

Preventive education: They provide education on oral hygiene and preventive care to communities, especially in underserved areas.
Outreach programs: Dental therapists often engage in outreach programs to improve community dental health awareness.

Team Collaboration

Integrated Care: Dental therapists work as part of a dentist-led team, which includes dental hygienists and dental assistants.
Increased productivity: By handling routine care, they increase the overall capacity and efficiency of the dental care team.

What is the history and evolution of dental therapy?

Dental therapists have been providing care around the world for over a century. The concept was first introduced in New Zealand in 1921 and has since been adopted by numerous countries to address dental care shortages. In the U.S., the pioneering program was initiated by Alaska Native and American Indian leaders to tackle the lack of dental services in their communities, setting a precedent for other states to follow.

What education and training do dental therapists receive?

Dental therapists undergo specialized and rigorous training to equip them with the skills needed for their roles. The Commission on Dental Accreditation, the same body that approves education programs for dentists, passed national accreditation standards for dental therapists in 2015. Dental therapy students must receive at least three academic years (not including summers) of full-time instruction, including a clinical preceptorship experience. For specific areas of practice in which they overlap, dental therapists receive the same training as dentists.

Are dental hygienists and dental therapists the same?

No, while dental hygienists specialize in soft tissue (gums) and prevention, dental therapists concentrate on hard tissues (teeth) and procedures like cavity fillings.

Can dental therapists work independently?

No, dental therapists work under the supervision of licensed dentists through a collaborative management agreement. A dental therapist licensed under 2023 Wisconsin Act 87 has provided dental therapy services for at least 2,000 hours under direct supervision or indirect supervision, the dental therapist may provide dental therapy services under general supervision of a qualifying dentist with who the dental therapist has entered into a collaborative management agreement.

Where will dental therapists receive education in Wisconsin?

Northcentral Technical College is proud to announce the onset of the next generation of oral health care providers — dental therapy! The dental therapist is a mid-level treatment provider with a focus on underserved populations, performing under the supervision of a licensed dentist.

The Dental Therapy Associate Degree has the following criteria for program entrance.

As a prerequisite to program enrollment, an applicant must:

Certification in Local Anesthesia and Nitrous Oxide administration as granted by the State of Wisconsin DSPS
CPR/AED current certification
Graduate of an accredited Dental Hygiene program through the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
Licensed as a Dental Hygienist by the Wisconsin State Board of Dental Examiners

Contact Northcentral Technical College:

1000 W. Campus Drive

Wausau, WI 54401

(888) 682-7144

Resources

Expand your understanding of what dental therapists are, and how they can help oral health access in Wisconsin.

American Dental Hygienists’ Association – Dental Therapy
Information regarding dental therapy is available on the American Dental Hygienists’ Association page under Innovative Workforce Models.

American Dental Therapy Association
The American Dental Therapy Association’s mission is to ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality oral health care. They educate the public about the value of dental therapists, create educational and career advancement opportunities for dental therapists and support educational institutions in developing superior dental therapy programs.

Community Catalyst – Dental Access Project
Community Catalyst created the Dental Access Project to address inequitable access and other barriers to care. As part of this effort, their collective work advocates for the expansion of dental health teams to include a mid-level dental providers (dental therapists).

Minnesota Dental Therapy Association
The Minnesota Dental Therapy Association is nationally recognized for their work in promoting and growing the dental therapy profession so that everyone, everywhere can have access to quality oral health care.

National Partnership for Dental Therapy
The Partnership is co-chaired by Community Catalyst, the National Indian Health Board, the National Coalition of Dentists for Health Equity and the American Dental Therapy Association. The Partnership’s goal is to elevate the visibility and broad, multi-sectorial support for dental therapy as an evidence-based way to improve access to oral health.

Research: An enormous body of evidence exists demonstrating that dental therapists deliver high-quality, cost-effective care as well as improved access to care. This page contains some key research.

What is a Dental Therapist?
For more than 125 million Americans, basic dental care is out of reach. But there’s a solution that can help – dental therapy. This video highlights the role of dental therapists and how they can contribute to improved dental access and outcomes.