Aurora Johnson, left, a dental therapist, filled cavities for Paul Towarak, 10, in the village of Unalakleet, Alaska. For more involved procedures, Ms. Johnson refers patients to a dentist. Photo courtesy of New York Times
Less training is not an answer. Dentistry is a complex and difficult profession that is MORE than extracting and filling a few teeth.
If the dental therapists must have two years of training, how is that different than a three year program at an American Dental School?
Answer: One year of training
And, that solves access to care or the cost of dental care how?
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I have to agree. That one extra year of training is invaluable. Sure, access to dental care would improve, but quality of care would drop. The answer to the access problem should not involve causing more problems.
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