Dental Therapist Vs Oral Preventive Assistant
Two new oral health roles are making headlines, but they are not the same. A legal nurse consultant breaks down why these two oral health professionals differ sharply in education, oversight, and impact on access to care.
On January 13, Cambria Nwosu, DNP, RN, LNC, a legal nurse consultant and doctorally prepared nurse with more than 15 years of experience across clinical practice, healthcare administration, and medical-legal analysis, posted a video comparing two new types of oral health professionals that have been introduced in Michigan and Arizona. Michigan just licensed its first dental therapist, Dana Obey, DT, and Arizona passed legislation in April creating the oral preventive assistant. Oral preventive assistants are dental assistants who, after completing a training course, are allowed to scale supragingivally.
Taking a decidedly legal tone, Nwosu notes that dental therapists are licensed by the state while OPAs are managed by dentists. She states that Michigan is responding to the problem of dental care health professional shortage areas by licensing dental therapists in to expand access to care. On the other hand, Nwosu explains that OPAs’ authority is delegated by dentists who must be physically present while they provide any treatment.
Nwosu, who has more than 100,000 Instagram followers, explains the rigorous educational program that dental therapists undergo, which enables them to practice under general supervision, meaning a dentist does not need to be present while providing care. The bottom line? Dental therapists expand access to care while OPAs take on duties already being performed in dental offices by dental hygienists. Click here to watch the video.
