Dental Therapy Act (HB 2921) can help address our dental care needs 

The Dental Therapy Act in Oklahoma can help address our unmet dental care needs

This legislative session, lawmakers can take action to increase access to dental care by supporting the Dental Therapy Act, House Bill 2921, introduced by Rep. Ajay Pittman. The Dental Therapy Act would expand basic preventive and restorative dental treatment to children and adults in Oklahoma. A model that has been successfully been used in other states, it would be an additional solution to addressing Oklahoma’s dental health outcomes and address the significant unmet need for dental care. Dental therapy can improve oral health for more Oklahomans who too often go without. This evidence-based model with high standards of care, oversight, and CODA education standards, should be added in conjunction to other proposed solutions to address the state’s dental workforce crisis.

Dental therapy is one policy option to help address our health care outcomes

Dental therapists are licensed dental care providers who work under the supervision of dentists to provide community education, routine cleanings, and preventive and basic restorative dental care. They essentially free up dentists’ time to focus on the more complex and severe dental care. Dental therapists are part of a dentist-led dental care team, which includes dental hygienists and dental assistants.

There have been profound inequities in health and health care across and within states, Oklahoma performs poorly for both. In the 2024 Health of Women and Children Report, Oklahoma was also ranked as one of the least healthy states. While there are a number of other socioeconomic factors that impact health care outcomes, prioritizing dental care has been shown to improve overall health outcomes. Many of the states that have passed dental therapy state legislation can call upon a much more accessible dental care team to serve their residents’ oral health needs. Passing the Dental Therapy Act this legislative session is a proven solution that can make dental care more accessible and help address our state’s poor health outcomes.

Dental therapy can improve access to dental care across the state

A key element of dental therapy is their mobility. Unlike most dental practices, dental therapists are able to travel and provide essential dental services in areas of the state that don’t have access to dental care right now. Oklahoma has a shortage of dentists, specifically in rural areas. About two-thirds of needs aren’t met in dental health provider shortage areas in Oklahoma. There are more than a million Oklahomans living in nearly 200 areas around the state without adequate dental provider coverage. Dental therapists can help bring care directly to communities, especially in rural areas where many Oklahomans struggle to access dental care.

Dental therapists help fill a dental health care gap in rural communities – making basic dental needs more accessible. The dental therapy model builds on existing, successful, Native-led frameworks. Advocacy for dental therapy began in states with significant American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations as a way to fill care gaps. There is also a great opportunity for collaboration with Tribes and Indian Health organizations in availing dental therapists at Indian Health Service, Tribal Health, and Urban Indian Health organizations (I/T/Us) across Oklahoma. This would improve the state’s overall health and facilitate much more accessible dental care.

Bringing dental therapy to Oklahoma requires action from state lawmakers this legislative session

Momentum is growing across the United States for dental therapy. HB 2921 would allow Oklahoma to join 14 other states that allow dental therapy practice: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Maine, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. Dental therapy bills were introduced in at least four other states last year (Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York); Florida, like Oklahoma, will consider it in 2025.

Dental therapy will make dental care more accessible for Oklahomans

Dental coverage and oral health are vitally important for overall health and well-being, and creating a new, mid-level dental provider option will shore up OK’s dental workforce and make dental care more accessible for everyone.

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CALL TO ACTION

Contact your legislator in support of the Oklahoma Dental Therapy Act, House Bill 2921.

Find your lawmaker using OK Policy’s Legislator Lookup