Dental Therapists Are Being Suggested To Fill The Gap In Dental Care

A coalition of more than 50 advocacy groups in Kansas has suggested educating dental therapists to work under the supervision of established dentists to help cover a service gap in the state.

Four out of five counties in Kansas don’t have enough dentists to meet demand and 14 of the state’s counties have no dentistry practitioners at all, The Topeka Capital-Journal (http://bit.ly/2bV9jiI ) reports. The Kansas Board of Regents suggested in early August the possibility of starting the state’s first school of dentistry at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

The coalition is offering the education of dental therapists as an alternative.

Graduates of the dental therapy programs would be eligible to perform routine or preventative care that includes extractions, fillings and cleanings.

To view the full story, please visit: http://www.sacbee.com/news/article98650757.html

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