Provides for licensing of a dental therapist

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic10
• Republican3

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Fahy says this is needed

Millions of New Yorkers cannot access the dental care they need. Many are compelled to seek treatment in hospital emergency departments where, instead of receiving restorative care, they often receive pain manage- ment and a referral, or simply have a tooth extracted. Populations such as people with disabilities, the elderly, veterans and young children often wait months, or even years, in some places, for a dental appoint- ment. At the same time, poor oral health is linked to serious systemic conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and complications during pregnancy, making access to dental care a matter of overall health, not only oral health. 1 A 2024 report found that 2.8 million New Yorkers - about 14 percent of the population - live in communities with the most severe barriers to dental care. Rural regions face the greatest and most concentrated oral health access challenges, with some areas having over 80% of residents in the highest-need communities. Shortages of dentists and dental hygienists, particularly in rural areas, are a leading driver of unmet oral health needs. 2 New York currently has 164 dental Health Profes- sional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), the majority of which reflect Medicaid- eligible populations. The federal government estimates that an addi- tional 588 dentists would be required in 2026 to close that gap. 3 To address these challenges, New York must enable dentists to add dental therapists to their care team. Dental therapists are oral health profes- sionals who work under the supervision of a dentist and deliver a defined set of preventive and basic restorative services, including exams, cavity preparations and fillings, fluoride treatments, and seal- ants. Their presence adds capacity to existing dental Clinics, allowing more patients to receive care in a timely manner. Dental therapy education covers a limited set of procedures so programs can be completed in less time and at lower cost than dental school. Dental therapists are trained in programs accredited by the same body that accredits dental and dental hygiene programs. 4 Dental therapy programs can be built at a range of educational institutions, including four-year universities, community colleges, and technical colleges and have been developed in partnership with underserved communities with the intent of providing an accessible pathway for community members to become the dental care provider their communities need. With accessible education and a demonstrated ability to retain providers in underserved communities, dental therapy has been successful at helping communities with a shortage of providers grow and sustain their dental workforce. 5 Dental therapy has been practiced around the world for over a century and in the United States since 2005, when dental therapists began serv- ing Alaskan Native communities. 6 Dental therapists are now authorized to practice in fourteen states, including Michigan, Minnesota, and, most recently, Wisconsin. 7 A substantial and growing body of evidence supports their effectiveness. A 2024 study of a large safety-net practice in Minnesota found that hiring dental therapists enabled significant expansion of capacity particularly in community-based settings. 8 A 2022 article in JAMA Health Forum found that authorizing dental therapists in Minnesota resulted in improved access to dental care, particularly for low-income populations. 9 Adding dental therapist to the dental team will expand the reach of dental practices and shorten the waiting list for basic treatments as well as preventive care.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.