Participants should be aware of the following financial/non-financial relationships: . Prasida Khanal, BDS, MPH: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
In 2009, Minnesota became the first state to establish licensure of dental therapists, with the primary purpose to extend dental health to underserved populations. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) convened the Dental Therapy (DT) Research Group to increase knowledge and awareness about dental therapists. The group of experts served as a resource for partners and states considering ways in which DTs can increase access and drive down consumer costs while still ensuring safe, effective care. One of the focus areas was to develop a Minimum Data Set repository for dental therapy researchers/stakeholders interested in tracking the growth and evolution of this profession. Against this backdrop, the DT group conducted a pilot study to standardize data elements on the practice of dental therapy from dental therapy employers. The data was electronically collected using the REDCap from four dental clinics that employed dental therapists and advanced dental therapists. The data mainly came from dental electronic data systems. Participating practices also provided information on their programs and employees. This pilot project tested out both the data collected, and the process used.
This roundtable summarizes the findings from the DT pilot study. The presentation will also highlight the work of the DT group, share lessons learned from the pilot study and discuss best practices in measuring the reach and impact of the DTs on population oral health. There will be opportunity to engage the audience in discussion about measuring access and return on investment using innovative research studies.
