Expanding the Workforce

Other states have accomplished long-term oral health improvements by expanding the oral healthcare workforce; we are examining how these strategies can work for Oklahoma.

Dental Therapists (DT's) are licensed allied health professionals that can provide the most commonly needed routine dental procedures. Evidence shows that when dental therapists are working in communities, those communities get healthier. Dental therapists have been authorized to work in 14 states.

OKPDA encourages OK to authorize the profession of DT's in OK, to allow more Oklahomans to access high quality oral healthcare.

Interprofessional Collaboration 

Oral health is a key component of overall health, and oral disease is a bidirectional risk factor for many other diseases. When oral healthcare providers are integrated into multidisciplinary teams, including medical and behavioral health, patients receive more preventive care and health outcomes are improved, all at a lower cost.

Upstream Approaches to Recruitment and Retention

Pathway programs can be an effective way to grow oral healthcare providers who will work with rural and diverse communities.