We’re on to you and the shady PLAYBOOK.
As tireless advocates for Florida’s everyday children and families, American Children’s Campaign must once again challenge factual misstatements about the advancement known as Dental Therapy professionals.
We are committed to improving access to quality dental care based on science, fact, and the best interests of consumers.
The truth is dental therapy is safe, well-researched and a key part of the solution to Florida’s oral health crisis.
It is disturbing that a dental trade association still appears to be guided into turf guarding by a questionable anti-dental therapy PLAYBOOK, as evidenced by testimony at the recent House Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee, as well as other communications.
The PLAYBOOK doesn’t care that millions of Floridians in 65 of Florida’s 67 counties are suffering every day and facing bad life outcomes because they lack access to oral health care in their communities.
The PLAYBOOK doesn’t mention that Florida has more individuals living in dental health professional shortage areas than any other state. The PLAYBOOK, by encouraging and instructing disinformation on a grand scale, does nothing to enlighten anyone and in fact causes harm.
Here’s just one of the many stories we’ve heard from Floridians as we’ve traveled across the state:
“I’ve had an awful time getting my children into a dentist office. The one local to me books 6 months out and keeps rescheduling their appointments due to staff shortages or over scheduling. My oldest has mental health issues and has 17 cavities and still hasn’t had any fillings. His appointment was just moved for a 3rd time. I have to drive my younger kids an hour away to be seen. This is very hard on me financially. Especially since it’s a trip for the exam, a trip for cleaning, and then separate trips for treatment. It’s extremely exhausting and a financial strain.”– Deanna C., Putnam County
Dental therapy is an evidence-based solution to increase dental access safely and effectively.
Does the PLAYBOOK really believe that dentists in Florida can’t supervise Dental Therapists as dentists do elsewhere? The PLAYBOOK ignores that Dental Therapists have practiced safely for over 100 years worldwide in public and private settings (50 countries). Dental therapy’s seven years older than penicillin!
In the United States, Dental Therapists have been practicing for 20 years and are authorized in 14 states. Currently, they’re on the ground in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Maine, and Wisconsin – not just the one state the dental trade association repeats like a mantra.
The PLAYBOOK egregiously ignores that Dental Therapy students are educated in Commission on Dental Accreditation schools of higher learning – the same accrediting body as dental schools. And Dental Therapy students must pass the EXACT SAME dental licensing exam as dental students – limited to the procedures they perform.
Dental Therapy students commit four years to education and training. First, they must pass a year of prerequisites before being admitted to an accredited dental therapy program for three more years of rigorous course and practice work. Yet, the dental trade association blatantly casts shade by saying Dental Therapists will be “individuals with only high school diplomas”. How condescending!
The PLAYBOOK doesn’t mention a core truth: Dentists themselves will choose whether they want to add a Dental Therapist to their team. Should some dentists get to deny what other dentists choose to do in their practice?
The PLAYBOOK even seems to advise dentists to play on people’s emotions (especially legislators) by implying Dental Therapists provide a second tier or inferior level of care. Claims like these are scare tactics and grossly false. Actually, and this is especially damning to the PLAYBOOK’S veracity, Dental Therapy students had higher 2024 ADEX dental licensing exam scores than dental students for both anterior and posterior fillings – two procedures which both may perform.
It’s time to throw out the PLAYBOOK and quit playing loose with the facts like organized dentistry’s latest untruth about tooth extraction.
Dental Therapists, along with dental hygienists and dental students alike, are educated about Grade 3 mobility, in which there is severe vertical and horizontal movement. It seems you’re following the PLAYBOOK in calling this an “irreversible surgical procedure” or did one of your dues-paying members come up with that?
Dental therapy is supported by hundreds of dentists, dental professionals, Florida organizations, individuals and parents whose children are going without oral health care. Support is growing rapidly because it is deserving.
Get up to speed on the latest research by reading some key reports on the safety, quality and cost effectiveness of dental therapy. If the facts won’t move you, how about really paying attention to what Floridians are saying about difficulties accessing dental care throughout Florida. We’ve been all over the state listening to the enormous pain and suffering.
More is learned by listening than talking. You should try it sometime.