The FDA is following organized dentistry’s national playbook in an attack using fiction and fairy tales to prevent Florida from expanding access to dental care. In spite of these well-funded untruths, 14 states have passed legislation to allow the licensing of dental therapists. Dental therapists are mid-level oral health providers who perform roughly 20% of the most common dental procedures – prevention, exams and fillings. In this limited scope, dental therapists are educated and trained to the exact same level as dentists.
Organized dentistry such as the FDA are professional membership associations that represent the interests of their dues paying dentists. While they speak on behalf of their member dentists, they do not speak on behalf of ALL dentists in Florida, and certainly not for the millions of Florida citizens who can’t find affordable dental care in their communities. This is why the actions of the FDA are so appalling. Hundreds of organizations and individuals throughout Florida are supportive of dental therapy as well. Since it would be a voluntary choice to hire dental therapists, and all research shows they expand dental access and provide safe, effective care, is it possible the FDA’s attempted anti-dental therapy smear campaign is more about protecting dentists’ wallets than the general public?
Organized dentistry likes to scare people into wondering whether dental therapists can handle a medical emergency. Medical emergencies are rare. However, dental therapists are trained to handle emergencies in the same manner as dentists. The current protocol for a dentist with a patient experiencing a medical emergency is to stop and call 911. Dental therapy education programs have the exact same accreditation standards as dentists for safety and emergency management. In addition, all the published research shows dental therapists have the education and training necessary to provide safe, high-quality care:
Organized dentistry likes to claim dental therapy will create a two-tiered system of oral health care in Florida – implying that poor Floridians and rural communities will receive a lower quality of dental care from dental therapists. This is patently false. The truth is a two-tiered system of care already exists — those who can afford dental care and those who can’t. All published studies (nearly 1,500) prove the care provided by dental therapists is safe and effective. Isn’t it galling that organized dentistry would seemingly prefer Floridians to go without basic dental care than to be treated by a dental therapist? Would the FDA like Floridians to continue relying on hospital emergency rooms – the most expensive care of all – for pain pills and antibiotics because they can’t see a dentist in their community? Because that’s the reality for far too many Floridians.
Organized dentistry likes to point to their annual Mission of Mercy event as proof that they’re taking care of the dental care needs of Floridians who cannot afford dental care. While dentists who participate in charity care events should be commended, charity care is episodic and often has long waiting lines for services. They also offer no dental home or opportunity for follow-up care. Most importantly, they only help a tiny fraction of Floridians each year. Over the last 9 years, only 13,850 Floridians have received dental care at a Mission of Mercy event. That’s roughly 1,500 individuals each year in a state with a population of over 23 million and over 7.1 million living in areas without access to basic dental care.
The FDA has historically favored solutions to improve dental access that sound good on paper, but they really don’t make a dent in helping everyday Floridians access dental care. For example, the dental student loan forgiveness program is only funded to help 10 dentists per year. Florida is the fastest growing state in the nation with 1,539 dentists needed RIGHT NOW to remove existing dentist shortages in nearly every Florida county. Annually, Florida’s dentist shortage grows at roughly the same rate as new dental students graduate from Florida dental schools. Couple this with the number of dentists who retire each year (Florida’s dentist population is much older than the national average) and it’s difficult to see Florida ever closing the dentist gap without workforce reform strategies that include dental therapy.
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