Dental Professional Initiative Case Study

Mid-Level Dental Professional Initiative

The current dental care model creates an environment where people who are low-income, are minorities, or are living in rural areas or inner cities do not to have access to dental care (Wilkins, 2016) Currently Washington is pursuing implementing dental therapists to bridge this disparity. This paper will be addressing the mid level dental professional initiative WA H 1421 and how it can provide much needed access to these individuals. A dental therapist or (ADHP) is defined as: a mid-level oral health care provider with expanded training who provides direct patient care under an expanded scope of practice that includes the ability to diagnose and perform restorative services (Wilkins, 2016). Some

But since dental therapists scope is limited and requires fewer years of schooling this allows them to be less costly to hiring dentists and move into the dental field in a shortened amount of time. A similar model is seen in medical care with nurse practitioners and physician assistants. If dentists utilized this model they could increase access to care and education in their own communities (“Expanding Care,” 2014).

In the US 47.2% of adults have periodontitis and 26% percent of adults have untreated decay (“Dental Caries,” ND, “Adult periodontal Disease,” 2012). And a decrease in oral health has been linked to systemic complications such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic inflammatory diseases (“Expanding Care,” 2014). And yet dental care is often treated as a luxury versus a key component to the overall health of an individual. Dental therapists could bridge this gap, leading to fewer people in pain and fewer systemic, life-threatening

They are cost effective and are reaching the populations that are the most in need (“Expanding Care,” 2014). By allowing dentists to hire dental therapists we would be making strides forward to creating a world where safe, high quality dental care can be provided to anyone who needs it, I think that’s an initiative worth passing.

References

Wilkins, E. M. (2016). Clinic Practice of the Dental Hygienist (12th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Expanding Access to Care through Mid-Level Oral Health ... (2016). Retrieved February 2, 2018, from http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/Expanding_Access_to_Care_through_Mid-Level_Oral_Health_Practitioners_1_2018.pdf

Mid-Level Dental Providers: Expanding Care to Every Community. (2014). Retrieved February 02, 2018, from https://www.wkkf.org/resource-directory/resource/2014/10/mid-level-dental-providers

Summary. (n.d.). Retrieved February 03, 2018, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm

Periodontology, A. A. (2012, September 04). Retrieved February 03, 2018, from https://www.perio.org/consumer/cdc-study.htm

Dental Caries (Tooth Decay) in Adults (Age 20 to 64). (n.d.). Retrieved February 03, 2018, from