Eastern Washington University Advances Dental Therapy Program to Strengthen Rural Oral Healthcare
EWU is moving forward with plans to launch a master’s-level dental therapy program, expanding the state’s oral health workforce and addressing persistent access gaps in rural communities. If accredited, the program would place EWU among a small number of institutions nationwide offering formal dental therapy education.
Eastern Washington University (EWU) in Cheney is taking a significant step toward expanding access to oral healthcare in underserved areas with plans to launch a master’s degree program in dental therapy. Designed to complement the university’s existing dental hygiene program, the initiative reflects growing interest in team-based care models that extend preventive and restorative services beyond traditional dental offices.
The proposed program will be supported by a $10.5 million investment from the Washington State Legislature. As part of the project, EWU will relocate and renovate its 46-chair dental clinic, creating updated clinical, instructional, and student spaces. The dental therapy program is aimed squarely at addressing persistent shortages in rural Eastern Washington. Many communities in the region have limited access to dental providers, often leaving residents to seek care in hospital emergency departments for preventable dental conditions. Dental therapists are positioned to help fill this gap by delivering basic restorative, preventive, and surgical services in community clinics, federally qualified health centers, and other nontraditional settings.
Dental therapy remains an emerging profession nationally, with only a small number of Commission on Dental Accreditation–accredited programs currently in operation. EWU is beginning the accreditation process, which typically requires 12 to 18 months and includes comprehensive reviews of curriculum, faculty, and facilities. Pending approval, the university plans to enroll its first cohort in fall 2028. The proposed curriculum will be a 3-year Master of Science program, enrolling up to 12 students per cohort and eventually supporting 36 students at full capacity. Admission will require a bachelor’s degree and completion of prerequisite coursework, but not prior dental hygiene licensure. Graduates will be licensed as dental therapists, distinct from dental hygienists, and the two educational tracks will remain separate. Click here to read more.
