WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — Florida is facing a shortage of dentists with 65 of the 67 counties designated as dental deserts – where there are too few dentists to meet the needs of the public.
Some Florida lawmakers are proposing new legislation that might address the shortage by using dental therapists.
The legislation would establish a dental therapist certification – which can be achieved in three years – compared to 8 years of study to become a dentist. These dental therapists would be licensed to do basic dental work like filling cavities and basic tooth extraction.
Frank Catalanotto is the President of Floridians for Dental Access. He says therapists would be employed at dental practices, dealing with routine dental work while more complex procedures would be performed by a dentist.
“They have exactly the same qualifications as dentists do but for a limited scope of procedures,” Catalanotto said.
He says dental therapists could help to cut down on the shortage of dentists.
“We are convinced that all the data says that dental therapists are high quality, they provide safe care and they provide cost effective care,” he said.
Some dentists say it’s the wrong approach.
Dr. Zack Kalarickal, who has been a dentist for 25 years and runs Wesley Chapel Dentistry, says the focus should be on expanding training for dental hygienists and dental assistants.
“Why not invest the money in those programs and make it easier for students who participate in those programs instead of creating another model that doesn’t have any track record of being successful anywhere,” he said.
He is concerned that dental therapists would lack proper experience to participate in irreversible surgeries like a tooth extraction.
Matching bills in the Florida House (CS/HB 21) and Florida Senate (SB 82) are pushing for dental therapists.
One just passed 14-1 in the House Health Professionals and Programs subcommittee.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this article stated an incorrect number of counties in Florida. This has been corrected.