72 million Americans live in health professional shortage areas throughout the nation. Due to a shortage of dentists, basic oral health care is limited, leading to illnesses and diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and more. Dental Therapists are mid-level practitioners who can provide basic dental care and address oral health needs while working with a dentist.
conference education
Breakout Session: If You Build It Will They Come? Friday, October 6, 2023 | 2:50 pm - 3:50 pm (.75 CDE) Presenter: Dr. Priscilla Flynn
Dental health services to uninsured and under-insured children remains a health ac- cess issue and is more prevalent in rural areas. The primary goal of this program was to improve children’s dental care access through a university-community partnership. A secondary goal was to provide training for dental therapy students to run a commu- nity-based collaborative practice organization. Methods. The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and an established collaborative practice founded by a dental hy- gienist partnered to create didactic courses and an internship for dental therapy stu- dents. Students completed didactic courses on non-profit organizational development and grant-writing followed by school-based dental care residencies with the community partner. Preventive and restorative services were recorded at baseline and each quarter of the program. Student expectations and evaluations were solicited at the beginning and at the completion of the program, respectively. Results. Two cohorts of students in the dual-degree dental hygiene and dental therapy program participated in the pro- gram. Dental services to participating children increased during the program. Student evaluations of the program were positive with several students recommending that the elective courses be made mandatory. Following the hiring of one of the dental therapy students after graduation by the community partner, restorative services increased near- ly four-fold. Conclusion. University-community partnerships can provide the groundwork to build sustainable collaborative practices with dramatic increases in dental care for under-served children. Following the program, participants will be able to identify the components of a success- ful university-community partnership. List examples of how to operationalize steps in the community-engagement model, and design an outline of the program for replication in similar settings. Intended audience: Dental therapists, oral health administrators, insurance companies, philanthropic organizations, university program directors and administrators, communi- ty-based organizations
The ADTA believes ALL Americans should have access to high-quality oral health care. If you agree, join the ADTA today . ADTA Membership is open to allies, individuals, organizations, and students, seeking to expand Dental Therapy across the United States. Join our efforts to break down barriers and increase access to equitable oral health care. The mouth is a vital body part, and its care and well-being should not be minimalized. Oral health is health.
Annual Conference Guide 2023
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