• Publications
    • Essay
    • Case Study
    • Policy Study
    • Report
    • Testimony
    • Other
    • Newsletter
  • Blog
    • Daily Blog
    • Podcasts and Radio
    • Video
    • Infographics
    • Commentary / Op-Eds
    • Events
  • Events
  • Donate
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Show-Me Institute Board of Directors
    • Fellows and Scholars
    • Our Authors
    • Jobs
  • Contact
  • Explore Topics
    • Education
      • Accountability
      • Education Finance
      • Performance
      • School Choice
    • Health Care
      • Free-Market Reform
      • Medicaid
    • Corporate Welfare
      • Special Taxing Districts
      • Subsidies
      • Tax Credits
    • Labor
      • Government Unions
      • Public Pensions
    • State and Local Government
      • Budget and Spending
      • Courts
      • Criminal Justice
      • Municipal Policy
      • Property Rights
      • Transparency
      • Transportation
    • Economy
      • Business Climate
      • Energy
      • Minimum Wage
      • Privatization
      • Regulation
      • Taxes
      • Welfare
      • Workforce
Show Me InstituteShow Me Institute
Show Me InstituteShow Me Institute
Support the Show-Me Institute
  • Publications
    • Essay
    • Case Study
    • Policy Study
    • Report
    • Testimony
    • Other
    • Newsletter
  • Blog
    • Daily Blog
    • Podcasts and Radio
    • Video
    • Infographics
    • Commentary / Op-Eds
    • Events
  • Events
  • Donate
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Show-Me Institute Board of Directors
    • Fellows and Scholars
    • Our Authors
    • Jobs
  • Contact
  • Explore Topics
    • Education
      • Accountability
      • Education Finance
      • Performance
      • School Choice
    • Health Care
      • Free-Market Reform
      • Medicaid
    • Corporate Welfare
      • Special Taxing Districts
      • Subsidies
      • Tax Credits
    • Labor
      • Government Unions
      • Public Pensions
    • State and Local Government
      • Budget and Spending
      • Courts
      • Criminal Justice
      • Municipal Policy
      • Property Rights
      • Transparency
      • Transportation
    • Economy
      • Business Climate
      • Energy
      • Minimum Wage
      • Privatization
      • Regulation
      • Taxes
      • Welfare
      • Workforce
Health Care / Free-Market Reform

Healthier Smiles, One Dental Therapist at a Time

By Caitlin Hartsell on Oct 27, 2010

Good news for deregulation!

The W.K. Kellogg Institute released a study yesterday evaluating the success of the Alaskan dental therapist program over the past two years. The results reflected both high patient satisfaction and quality of care. Dental therapists — a topic we’ve discussed on Show-Me Daily before — are mid-level dental professionals that can provide basic and preventive oral health care at a lower cost than traditional dentists. Alaska’s recent results add to a growing body of research showing that deregulation in dental care can improve health by bringing quality care to underserved areas.

For Missouri, this is just further proof that loosening the restrictions on dental practitioners could be beneficial. Of Missouri’s 114 counties, 50 have a shortage of dental professionals, a problem that is most profound in rural areas. This has led to fewer Missourians receiving dental care: Missouri was ranked 47th in the nation for the percentage of its adult population who visited the dentist during the past year.

While rural Alaska reaps the benefits of this dental deregulation, Missouri still only allows dentists certified by the American Dental Association to perform even basic dental care. With the benefits of mid-level practitioners becoming increasingly apparent, Missourians stand to gain from a reconsideration of state dental regulations.

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
About the author

Caitlin Hartsell

More about this author >
    Footer Logo
    Support the Show-Me-Institute
    Showmeinstitute.org is brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
    • Publications
    • Blog
    • Events
    • Donate
    • About
    • Contact

    Reprint permission for Show-Me Institute publications and commentaries is hereby granted, provided that proper credit is given to the author. We request, but do not require, that those who reprint our material notify us of publication for our records: [email protected]

    Mission Statement
    Advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy.

    © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved