Allied Health Professional Model
Allied health professionals support rural oral health programs by providing oral healthcare services, including:
- Education
- Referral
- Screening
- Support services
According to the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions,
“Allied Health professionals are involved with the delivery of health or related services pertaining to the identification, evaluation and prevention of diseases and disorders…”
Allied health professionals include:
- Dental hygienists
- Dental assistants
- Health educators
- Dental laboratory technicians
- Community dental health coordinators
Some states have proposed the creation of a new allied health professional training program for mid-level dental providers called dental therapists to perform certain procedures.
Implementation Considerations
Allied health professionals may support school-based programs (see School-Based Model), mobile dental services programs (see Mobile Dental Services Model), dental clinic programs (see Dental Clinic Model), and dental home programs (see Dental Home Model).
There is promising evidence that expanding the scope of services delivered by allied health professionals increases access to oral healthcare, increases the availability of oral health professionals and reduces cavities.
Resources to Learn More
Expanding
the Dental Workforce
Document
Provides an overview of Pew's work to expand the dental workforce by licensing dental therapists to improve
access to treatment in rural communities, with a focus on children.
Organization(s): The Pew Charitable Trusts
Date: 3/2018