Dental therapists have brought oral health care to hundreds of thousands of people in the United States who would have otherwise gone without it. Across the country, community leaders, consumer advocates, educators, dentists and public health champions want to make sure they can practice everywhere they are needed. Learn about dental therapy!
Nearly a third of people in the U.S. are unable to get the dental care they need, including a significant percentage of our nation’s children and seniors. It can be debilitating and have long-lasting health impacts. Untreated tooth decay affects peoples’ ability to eat, go to school or work, and can lead to life-threatening infections.
Today, dental therapists are delivering oral health care to hundreds of thousands of people in the United States who otherwise would not be able to receive it. Dental therapists are improving access to preventive and early dental care, as well as oral health education, resulting in fewer people needing more costly, invasive treatment.
But not everyone has the opportunity to see a dental therapist – currently, they only practice in certain states. Across the country, community leaders, consumer advocates, educators, dentists, dental hygienists and public health champions are actively working to change that. Everyone, including the most vulnerable, in our country should have the opportunity to receive basic oral health care, especially when there are realistic options available.
Yet, close to 58 million people live in areas with too few dental providers.
