The Florida Dental Association is opposed to a bill that would establish dental therapists in Florida, according to a Feb. 17 report from the Tampa Bay Times.
Here are eight things to know:
1. Corresponding bills in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate aim to create a dental therapist certification that could be earned in three years, compared to the eight years of study required for dentists.
2. Under the legislation, dental therapists would only be licensed to complete basic dental work, such as filling cavities and tooth extractions.
3. Most dental therapists in Florida would work in dental practices, but would also be permitted to work in emergency rooms, hospitals, health centers and nursing homes.
4. Frank Catalanotto, DMD, former dean of the University of Florida College of Dentistry and a founding member of Floridians for Dental Access, said that dental therapists would increase access to dental care for Florida residents.
5. The Florida Dental Association has lobbied and opposed legislation related to dental therapy in the state for the past eight years, citing concerns about the quality of care that would be provided by dental therapists and the cost of creating a dental therapist certification program.
6. Instead of a dental therapist program, the organization supports expanding the dental student loan repayment program, which allows new dentists to pay off $50,000 per year for up to five years if they are treating Medicaid patients.
7. There are 14 states with laws licensing dental therapists.
8. If approved, House Bill 21 and Senate Bill 82 would go into effect July 1.