Dental Therapists doing oral health servicesWho We Are

Our mission is to ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality oral health care. Founded in 2006, the American Dental Therapy Association (ADTA) is the national professional society for dental therapists. Each year, ADTA supports dental therapists in providing vital oral health care to hundreds of thousands of Americans. We educate the public about the value of dental therapists, create educational and career advancement opportunities for dental therapists, and support educational institutions in developing superior dental therapy programs.


A Key Role in Oral Health

Over 58 million people in the United States live in areas with dentist shortages, and each year, more than 16.5 million children don’t receive dental care. People of color, low-income families, those who are uninsured, and those living in rural locations are the most impacted. As experts at providing high-quality, affordable oral health care, dental therapists address critical gaps in access. Not only do dental therapists receive intensive training in a select set of the most needed routine dental procedures, they are also trained on how to effectively collaborate with other members of the dental care team, so patients receive quality, accessible, and seamless care. Moreover, clinics that incorporate dental therapists into their care team demonstrate increased access to oral health care for underserved patients. This means more Americans receiving the oral health care they deserve. Plus, the reimbursement value of the care that dental therapists deliver has been demonstrated to far exceed the costs of their employment.

Evidence-based Educational and Career Development Support

As a trusted national leader, ADTA delivers educational resources and opportunities that support dental therapists in making effective clinical decisions based on the most up-to-date guidance. We are also committed to advancing the profession of dental therapy through offering technical assistance and capacity building to educational institutions seeking to develop or enhance their dental therapy programs.

A Leader in the Fight for Oral Health Care Equity

ADTA advocates and educates on behalf of the profession and the patients dental therapists serve. We have members nationwide who are committed to helping us promote policies that ensure recognition of dental therapists as an essential part of improving the quality, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness of oral health for all Americans. The American Dental Therapy Association Alliance engages dental therapists and our allies on pressing oral health care equity issues and provides information on how to get involved with our mission of advancing oral health care equity.