FAQs
Dental Therapy Basics
Dental therapists, also known as dental health aid therapists (DHATs), are licensed and/or certified providers that work under the supervision of a dentist. Like physician assistants in the field of medicine, dental therapists are mid-level providers. They receive intensive training in a select set of the most needed routine dental procedures.
Dental therapists provide preventive and routine dental care, including exams, filling cavities, educating patients about oral health, cleaning teeth, placing temporary crowns on baby teeth and performing simple extractions depending on their regulatory oversight (state legislation or certification standards).
Dental therapists are a vital, cost-effective part of the dental team. They increase care access and overall revenue for clinics, and allow dentists to perform more advanced care for a larger number of patients.
Dental therapists can work in traditional dental offices and clinics, community settings such as schools, nursing homes, mobile clinics and in some states dental therapists are working in ER/hospital settings. For a detailed representation of the specific state-by-state requirements that define dental therapy practice, click here.
Dental therapists and dental hygienists are complementary—not competing—roles. Dental hygienists are essential for prevention and periodontal care. Dental therapists expand the system’s capacity to treat disease, not just prevent it.
Dental hygienists prevent disease, while dental therapists both prevent and treat it. Together, they create a more efficient, prevention-focused, team-based model of care.
The ADTA believes access to routine dental care should be a right, not a privilege. Dental therapists help expand quality, culturally relevant care by reducing patient wait times, diversifying the workforce and improving oral health outcomes. Dental therapy education can be achieved in as little as 3 academic years, reducing barriers to education. The reimbursement value of the care dental therapists deliver has been demonstrated to far exceed the costs of their employment.
The number of dental therapy programs in the United States continues to grow each year. As of April 2026, there are seven dental therapy programs located in Alaska, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin, with more in development. Check this page for more information regarding these programs.
Verify authorization of dental therapy in the State you plan to reside. You can view that information here. Review education pathways and determine the past that best fits you. As of April 2026, there are seven dental therapy programs located in Alaska, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin, with more in development. Check this page for more information regarding these programs.
Dental therapy in the United States is regulated by State, Tribal, or federal authority, and there is currently no universal pathway for international reciprocity. If you wish to pursue dental therapy, you will need to fulfill the following:
- Complete a United States based dental therapy program
- Obtaining licensure or certification in the state or Tribal system where you plan to practice
Because requirements vary widely, we highly recommend:
- Reviewing the dental therapy legislation and credentialing requirements in the state where you are interested in working
- If dental therapy is authorized in that state, contacting the state dental board for specific guidance
- Connecting with the ADTA to stay informed about the evolving dental therapy landscape in the United States
The ADTA continues to advocate for increased workforce mobility and clearer pathways for internationally trained oral health providers.
For Clinics & Employers
There are several successful models. To learn more, consider taking this short course on how to optimize your dental team with dental therapists! It will help you become more familiar with the role of dental therapists (on a statewide level) and the benefits they bring to patient care and the community. Reach out to our team if you would like to be connected to a dental therapist to learn more.
Dental therapists are supervised by dentists.
Dental therapists complete rigorous, competency-based education and clinical training programs that prepare them to provide safe, high-quality preventive and routine restorative care as part of a team-based model.
Today, many dental therapy education programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), which sets national standards for curriculum, clinical training, and educational outcomes. These programs include both classroom instruction and extensive supervised clinical experience. The existing dental therapy workforce includes many highly experienced professionals who were educated within dental therapy education in programs developed before CODA accreditation was developed.
The American Dental Therapy Association believes that equity should be at the center of dental therapy education and training. An equity-centered workforce recognizes that:
- Accreditation is one pathway to standardization, but not the only measure of quality or competence
- Early education programs helped build the evidence base showing that dental therapists provide safe, effective care
- Clinical outcomes, community impact, and demonstrated competency are essential indicators of qualification
After confirming that dental therapy is authorized in your state or Tribal area, understand the applicable supervision and credentialing requirements for your setting by reviewing your state's dental therapy legislation. Employers can find candidates by posting open positions through the ADTA Job Board , connecting with dental therapy education programs, and networking within the profession by attending events like the ADTA Annual Conference.
Please reach out to the ADTA at any time for support at info@americandentaltherapyassociation.org.
The ADTA is working with CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and dental therapy community members to establish a National Compensation Survey Data Report. More to come soon.
Dental therapy is authorized in a growing number of states across the U.S., with each state establishing its own laws and guidelines for practice.
As of April 2026, dental therapy is authorized in: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin.
Check this PDF for the differences between the state authorizations of dental therapy.
Join the dental therapy community!
- Become a member of the ADTA [link] and stay connected with the community through webinars, events, and other engagement opportunities.
- Endorse dental therapy to get your name out there.
- Attend the ADTA Annual Conference
Feel free to reach out to us at info@americandentaltherapyassociation.org and we can connect you with education programs to reach dental therapy graduates for new recruitments.
Visit our “Evidence & Research” page to learn the facts about dental therapy. The National Partnership for Dental Therapy offers many resources regarding dental therapy. To visit their resource webpage, click here.
ADTA Admin & Membership
To become a member with the ADTA, click here.
To check your membership status, click Member Login on the upper right of the ADTA home page to sign in and access the membership portal. Once logged in, click Edit Account to see your membership status.
ADTA member perks include free CE webinars, discounts on educational opportunities (ie. in-person events, webinars, workshops), access to a network of dental professionals, as well as much more! Click here for a full list of membership perks.
Thank you for considering a gift to the ADTA. You can make a donation here. Your generosity helps shape the future of dental therapy and helps bring high-quality dental care to more communities nationwide.
You do not! Everyone is welcome.