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State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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U OF M AND REP. NORTON TEAM UP TO EXPAND ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE IN MINNESOTA
ST. PAUL, MN – The number of dentists serving rural and low-income populations in Minnesota is dwindling and threatening the dental health of thousands. The University of Minnesota and State Rep. Kim Norton (DFL – Rochester) are teaming up to do something about it this year, proposing a new “dental therapist" degree at the U School of Dentistry. The program would train mid-level dental practitioners to provide quality care for underserved populations in Minnesota.
“Many Minnesotans are denied timely, preventive and basic dental care every year because they don’t have insurance,” said Rep. Norton. “Instead of catching cavities and other problems early, people are forced to the emergency room after the problem has gotten too bad to fix. That’s an expensive, painful, and unnecessary way to deliver dental care in our state.”
According to officials at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), 1/3 of all emergency room visits to that hospital last year were for dental problems, costing HCMC $2.6 million in medical billings. The majority of dental emergency patients at HCMC could only be given antibiotics or pain medication to treat some very serious dental problems. Had more dental practitioners been available to treat these patients earlier, much of that expense and pain could have been prevented.
“By establishing this new degree program, the University of Minnesota is recognizing both a need and an opportunity,” said Patrick M. Lloyd, Dean of the U of M’s School of Dentistry. “Our dental therapy students will learn together with our dental and dental hygiene students, so that when they enter practice they can work together to provide the same high level of quality dental care Minnesotans have long enjoyed.”
Putting dental therapists to work in Minnesota will require two important components: 1) developing a new degree track at the University of Minnesota; and 2) establishing a new law allowing dental therapists to practice in this state and defining the scope and level of supervision of that practice. Working together, the U of M and Rep. Norton will take the first steps to see that happen tomorrow when the Board of Regents considers the degree program and Rep. Norton introduces her bill in the Minnesota House of Representatives establishing dental therapy as a new, recognized field of dental practice.
“This is a new and innovative proposal,” said Norton. “If it’s done right, Minnesota can lead the way in addressing a nationwide dental crisis affecting millions of Americans. With 1/3 of all Americans lacking insurance, and a troubling lack of access in rural areas of our country, we should establish forward-thinking, responsible reforms like this to deal with the problem.”
The University and Rep. Norton, working with the Minnesota Dental Association, are taking every means necessary to ensure that dental therapists would be held to the highest standard of quality and safety in Minnesota. As part of their 4-year bachelor’s program, dental therapists would be required to clinically train alongside dental students. Requiring this co-training system would allow both dentists and dental therapists to become familiar with each of their various responsibilities and ensure a solid collaboration between both professions to better serve the people of Minnesota. It would also allow dental therapists an important role in treatment of the patient, while ensuring the most complex dental procedures are handled by a dentist.
“Educating dental therapists at an accredited dental school also means they will be rigorously trained to the same clinical standards as dental students. It will ensure one standard of care that the public can trust and the profession can embrace,” said Dean Lloyd. “This approach will provide challenging career opportunities, and increase the capacity of an already-established network of providers throughout the state to care for greater numbers of patients and to offer these services at a reduced cost.”
Rep. Norton’s bill would require half of all dental therapists’ workloads be devoted to serving underserved populations in the State of Minnesota. It would also require on-site supervision by licensed dentists for surgical procedures, such as extractions for children and drilling of teeth for cavities. Because of the serious and sometimes irreversible nature of dental surgical procedures, having a dentist on-site is critical to patient safety and quality of care.
If Rep. Norton’s bill passes this year in the Minnesota Legislature, it could expand access to dental care for thousands of Minnesotans statewide – preventing countless painful, expensive trips to the emergency room. It would provide more focus on preventive care and affordable options for patients, and dramatically improve dental health in rural and low-income populations of the state. It would also give Minnesota students an opportunity to pursue a new and exciting career providing quality, affordable dental care to those in our state who need it most.
“Recognizing the barriers to accessing quality dental care in Minnesota was the first step,” said Norton. “Responding appropriately to that issue in a safe and reasonable way is our responsibility.”
News Items
- Rep. Norton Selected as Vice Chair of House Health and Human Services Finance Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-14 00:00:00)
- It’s Time for Legislature to Get Back to Basics, Balance the Budget Honestly - (Posted: 2012-12-11 00:00:00)
- Second Saturday Coffee Meeting Date Changed to December 9 - (Posted: 2012-12-03 00:00:00)
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