The ADA has issued a statement today in response to the December 6 Pew Center on the States' report that offers an economic model supporting the addition of dental therapists to the dental practice.
The ADA released the following statement:
We are extremely disappointed at the Pew Center on the States' apparent attempt to influence policy by "selling" midlevel providers as a way for dentists to increase profits. These are critical issues and they should not be trivialized. American Dental Association opposition to non-dentists performing surgical procedures, whether in a dental office or elsewhere, remains unchanged and unequivocal, and our position is based solely on what we believe best serves the public.
The ADA certainly supports innovations in the dental team that seek to break down the barriers that impede too many people from receiving oral healthcare. The Community Dental Health Coordinator pilot project best exemplifies how that can be done, focusing heavily on prevention -- the real key to improving oral health -- and helping patients who need care to receive it from fully trained dentists.
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