The Pros And Cons Of Dental Care

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Dental care has long been considered a privilege for the wealthier population. Rising cost of dental treatment, low insurance reimbursement, and the availability of dentists to treat the Medicaid population are contributing factors to the stereotyping. Children are at the center of the dental debate, bringing concern to a population that has unmet needs. Many lawmakers and organizational groups want to put dental into a medical model, creating a new dental provider called a dental therapist. It is time to consider if creating a new job description is really the answer to meeting dental needs across the United States. A Dental Therapist is a mid-level provider with distinct educational, examination, and practice requirements who may perform procedures as specified by state-specific laws (Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, 8th edition). The procedures that the new dental provider could perform are currently being done by expanded function dental assistants except for giving anesthesia, primary tooth (baby teeth) extractions,…show more content…
Across the United States the most cost-effective way to answer the call to the growing dental need is to improve the professionals that currently exist. Dental Assistants are working side by side with the Dentist to bring an exceptional customer service experience. An expanded functions dental assistant can work behind the Dentist finishing up a procedure while he/she moves to the next patient. Allowing added duties does not increase the cost of the schooling, however it does bring value to the profession while improving access to care. A Dental Hygienist provides a very personal customer service approach to dental patients, cleaning their teeth, providing preventive services, and oral hygiene care instructions. Having a Dental Hygienist do clinical procedures that the dentist and dental assistant are already doing is a costly

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