The Big PicturePatient acceptance of dental therapists
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Background
In Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the Netherlands as well as a few US states mid-level dental practitioners are considered part of dental teams. These dental therapists (DTs) provide preventive oral health care services and perform a few procedures usually restricted to dentists, such as preparing and placing fillings and doing routine extractions. Generally they work under the supervision of or in collaboration with dentists. The debate over the use of DTs was recently
Methods
Six hundred patients and waiting room companions completed a questionnaire asking about oral health experiences and level of comfort with the idea of treatment performed by a DT-hygienist. All were provided with a definition of what a DT was, and 7 procedures were referenced that the DT would provide. Respondents were fairly evenly distributed between those who were uninsured, publicly insured, or privately insured. Most were college educated and 40% had children. Half described the condition
Results
When asked if they would see the DT for care, for 5 of the 7 procedures more than 75% indicated they were comfortable with the idea. The procedures associated with the highest level of comfort were receiving advice and information about their teeth and receiving explanations of treatment options. Seeing the DT in an emergency and having routine cavities filled were viewed positively by nearly as many respondents.
Respondents also indicated they would be willing to allow the DT to fill teeth (77%
Discussion
Adding a new, lower-cost member on the dental team could increase the number of procedures that could be accomplished, promote cost-effective treatment, and free up dentists to concentrate on more complex cases. This study indicates that nearly two-thirds of the prospective patients would be comfortable with DTs performing a range of procedures now performed by dentists. Respondents were willing to eliminate their objections to a DT performing these duties based on lower cost and dentist
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Phillips E, Shaefer HL, Aksu MN, et al: Is a mid-level dental provider mode acceptable to potential patients? Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 44:426-434, 2016
Reprints available from HL Shaefer, School of Social Work, Univ of Michigan, 1080 S. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; fax: +1 734-763-3372; e-mail: [email protected]