Updated April 17, 2008
Minnesota dentists support passage of new oral health initiative
Minnesota Dental Association, others to collaborate on study of Oral Health Practitioner
St. Paul, MN - The Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) supported the successful passage of a legislative proposal today that will help ensure safe and effective care for Minnesota citizens that have difficulty accessing oral healthcare.
The MDA worked closely with other healthcare experts to propose the study of an oral health practitioner (OHP) that resulted in today's legislative action. The study, passed today as part of the larger Senate Omnibus Higher Education Bill, will convene a workgroup of oral healthcare experts to study how best to implement this new dental position, with the goal of providing safe, quality dental care to underserved populations, such as low-income and rural areas.
"Today's Senate action was a major breakthrough that will improve oral healthcare for those Minnesotans in the greatest need of access to quality dental care. The initiative reflects the tireless work of all oral healthcare stakeholders, including the MDA, Hennepin County Medical Center, the University of Minnesota Dental School, community clinics and others," explained Dr. Jamie Sledd, president of the MDA. "It has always been the goal of the MDA to provide the best possible dental care to all Minnesotans: It is our hope that an OHP can help to efficiently and effectively expand access for underserved populations. We thank Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon, Senator Ann Lynch, and Senator John Doll for their efforts on this proposal and for working with all stakeholders to produce a responsible compromise."
A workgroup representing dentists, dental hygienists and other members of the dental community will produce a study and recommend the specifics of an OHP's scope of practice, supervision, education, training and regulatory requirements. The study will examine how an oral health practitioner may help expand dental access in underserved areas, ensure patient safety, and maintain Minnesota's high standards of care. By January 2009, the work group will bring policy recommendations to the legislature.
The study of an OHP will be an important first step towards increasing oral health services to underserved Minnesotans. The MDA will continue to advocate for other proactive changes to the state's public dental programs to increase access to oral healthcare in low-income and rural areas.
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 83 percent of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. You can learn more at www.mndental.org.
Updated March 24, 2008
Minnesota Dental Association Statement regarding SF2895
(to establish an Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner)
The Minnesota Dental Association believes expanding access to quality dental care to all Minnesotans should be a top priority for lawmakers. Low-income and rural areas are underserved in our state, and we should be working to expand existing programs that reach these populations.
However, we have grave concerns about SF2895, a bill to establish a new dental hygienist or what proponents are calling an Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP).
Under this legislation, this untested, unsafe and unaccredited hygienist would be allowed to cut and drill in patients’ mouths without a dentist present in the building for supervision. No other state legislature has gone to such an extreme of having non-dentists drill and extract teeth or perform baby root canals.
This hasty and drastic measure puts patients’ safety at risk.
The bill claims that a new hygienist position will help expand access. Far from it: The bill allows this new untested hygienist to practice anywhere in the state and does not require them to serve underinsured or uninsured populations.
The new hygienist program being proposed would not be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), which for decades has been the standard third-party accrediting entity for dental schools, as well as dental hygiene and dental assisting programs.
In addition, this proposal greatly expands the scope of practice for dental hygienists. It allows hygienists with half the formal education of dentists to perform these irreversible procedures without a dentist in the building to supervise. For instance, some orthodontic and prosthodontic procedures proposed are commonly done by specialty dentists with up to four years of post-doctoral residency.
Minnesota has some of the best dental care in the country for a reason: Fully trained dentists work with an exceptional dental team to provide the highest quality care. The MDA urges lawmakers to support existing programs already in place to expand access, rather than reach for such a drastic and unwise bill.
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 83 percent of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. You can learn more at www.mndental.org.
January 31, 2008
Minnesota Dentists: “Health Care Reform Must Include Increased Access to Quality Dental Care”
Minnesota Dental Association Announces 2008 Legislative Agenda as Legislative Commission on Health Care Access Prepares Final Report
St. Paul, MN –The Minnesota Dental Association is urging lawmakers concerned about health care to develop healthy solutions that maintain the highest standards of oral health and close the gap in access to care. A commitment to making sure that every Minnesotan has access to quality care is the top legislative priority of the Minnesota Dental Association.
“Minnesota has some of the best oral health care in the country because we have professional doctors who provide safe, effective, comprehensive care for patients,” said Dr. Jamie Sledd, president of the Minnesota Dental Association. “Unfortunately, too many children and families still do not have access to the quality dental care they deserve. Some proposals claim to improve the gap in access, but they put Minnesotans’ oral health at risk by compromising quality and safety.”
The Minnesota Dental Association has developed a comprehensive plan that will provide leadership to improve access to underserved populations while maintaining quality care.
The Minnesota Dental Association’s legislative agenda to improve access includes:
- Improving access by strengthening existing partnerships between dentists and hygienists. To ensure low income patients receive preventive dental care, the legislature needs to continue promoting “collaborative agreements” that allow hygienists to administer preventive care outside of a dental office. These agreements were enacted into state law a few years ago and need continued promotion to encourage participation.
- Improving access through creation of a uniform public dental program statewide. Currently the Minnesota dental profession is required by the Department of Human Services to use nine different dental programs with nine different administrative systems. This multiple-program system creates a barrier to care for patients and is very inefficient and costly.
- Improving access by expanding incentives for dental professionals to serve needy populations. The Loan Forgiveness Program provides meaningful incentives to the dental profession and provides oral health care services to the underserved, especially Minnesota Health Care Program (MCHP) children. New dentists and dental hygienists who commit to three years of service in geographic areas where dental access is most acute should have their loans forgiven and receive a sign-on bonus.
Dr. Sledd explained that the foundation already exists to expand access. These are a few commonsense reforms which will vastly improve access to preventive oral health care. She stated these tactics will guarantee better quality and greater access for everyone.
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 83 percent of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. You can learn more at www.mndental.org.
January, 2008
Minnesota Dental Community Takes Action to Provide Free Dental Care to Children in Need
Free Dental Appointments Now Being Scheduled Statewide
(Minneapolis, MN) - - Local volunteer dentists are teaming up with dental professionals throughout Minnesota to provide their services, at no charge, to children whose families could otherwise not afford the care. The Minnesota Dental Association is sponsoring this unique outreach effort, called Give Kids a Smile, because dentists are committed to providing all children with dental care and improving access to care throughout Minnesota.
The free care will be provided on Friday, February 1 and Saturday, February 2, 2008 when thousands of dentists and other volunteers across the state open their offices and clinics to provide completely free dental care to children whose families cannot otherwise afford the care.
This year marks our 6th consecutive year of Give Kids a Smile. In the past six years free dental care has been provided to more than 25,000 children in need. The statewide effort has grown into one of the largest efforts to provide free dental care to children in need. Give Kids a Smile is one of several innovative programs led by the Minnesota Dental Association to provide access to care for underserved populations including children, the disabled and the elderly.
“This is such a special way for us to reach children in great need of dental care", said Dr. Jamie Sledd, president of the Minnesota Dental Association. “I am proud that dentists are leading the way to solve the access problem and it is very rewarding to open our doors to any child who needs treatment.”
Patients seeking appointments should be under the age of 18 and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. People interested in scheduling an appointment for their child may do so by calling United Way 211 (just dial 2-1-1) or the statewide toll-free number 1-800-543-7709. Information on specific services that will be provided will be outlined when an appointment is scheduled.
The care is offered to all children whose families don’t have the means to pay for dental care, but an advance appointment is required. Care will range from general exams to fluoride treatments, dental sealants and fillings for cavities.
Research shows that tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, affecting 50% of U.S. first graders. Nationally, more than one-half of children ages 6 to 8 have tooth decay; one third of which goes untreated.
Give Kids a Smile partners include HealthPartners, Patterson Dental, 3M Espe Dental Products and the Minnesota Dental Association Foundation.
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 83% of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. You can learn more at www.mndental.org.