National Partnership for Dental Therapy Blog

This blog is cross posted from the American Dental Therapy Association’s blog. Although access to quality health care services is essential to overall well-being, dental care remains inaccessible to many in the United States. Dentists who advocate for dental therapy are building the momentum to bridge this gap, particularly for underserved populations. These dedicated professionals, […]

Reports indicate an estimated 11% reduction in national dental practice capacity caused by the shortage of dental assistants and dental hygienists in 2022, while the COVID-19 pandemic led to an approximate 8% decrease in dental hygienist employment. Furthermore, enrollment across the United States in dental assisting programs has faced a decrease since 2015 and research […]

As a dental therapist or advocate for dental therapy, one of the most important things you can do is share your story. For some, dental therapy was a natural progression from many years of working as a dental assistant or hygienist. For others, dental therapy became an opportunity to improve the quality of oral healthcare […]

In recent years, the field of dentistry has seen  increased interest in the practice of minimally invasive care (MIC). This approach prioritizes the preservation of teeth through nonsurgical services, emphasizes prevention, and uses techniques that are less traumatic for patients. MIC can help treat oral health problems early, before more invasive, painful, and costly care […]

This blog is cross posted from the American Dental Therapy Association’s blog. Meet Leandra Beech and Mek Apangalook, two sisters from Alaska who share a passion for dental therapy. Born and raised in the northern reaches of Alaska, in Gambell, St. Lawrence, the sisters developed an appreciation for dental care from an early age. Leandra, […]

This blog is cross-posted from the American Dental Therapy Association’s blog. Meet Jamie Toney, a dental therapy student at the dəxʷx̌ayəbus-Dental Therapy Program at Skagit Valley College. Jamie’s dental experience began in 1995 when she started as a co-op student in high school, handling front desk duties and scheduling patients. Her experiences led to an […]

This blog is cross posted from the American Dental Therapy Association’s blog. The ADTA introduces our treasurer, Mark Kobylinsky! Mark holds dual licenses in dental therapy and dental hygiene, with nine years as a dental hygienist and one year as a dental therapist. Mark received his dental therapy license from Oregon in November 2022 when […]

This blog is cross-posted from the American Dental Therapy Association’s blog. The profession of dental therapy is a growing and evolving field, with many passionate professionals dedicated to improving oral health. One individual is Amy Coplen, whose journey from a dental background to academia and, ultimately, dental therapy advocacy has made her an inspiring oral […]

Dana Obey is a dental therapy student at Skagit Valley College’s first dental therapy education cohort and is poised to become the first dental therapist to work in Michigan. She is a part of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Before her educational journey, she worked in retail for ten years to support […]

Although oral health is a critical part of overall health and well-being, its benefits extend into significant economic advantages for individuals and society at large. Oral health problems can cause debilitating pain, interfere with eating and sleeping, and affect one’s appearance and self-confidence leading to long-term economic consequences such as missed work, reduced job prospects and lower earnings. Oral health issues […]

People really will do the most incredible things, under impossible conditions, as long as they have the right reasons. And the right reasons are always children, family and community.

In Washington, Skagit Valley College and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community partnered to open the fifth dental therapy education program in the U.S. Learn the story behind this collaboration and its leaders’ lessons for success.