American Dental Therapy Association

10/10/2026

Dental therapy isn't just a U.S. workforce model. 🌎
In the United States, dental therapy has been authorized in multiple states, expanding opportunities to strengthen the oral health workforce and improve access to care.
And the model extends well beyond the U.S. Dental therapists have long been part of oral health systems in countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, with models and scopes of practice varying across jurisdictions.
📍 Swipe through our Dental Therapy Facts series to learn more about how dental therapy is helping shape the oral health workforce.

10/09/2026

🦷 Early Intervention, Healthier Smiles!

How can early caries detection and minimally invasive care improve oral health outcomes for children?

Join **Elevating CARE** for an upcoming LIVE CE webinar exploring early intervention, preventive treatments, and the role of school-based mobile dental programs in expanding access to care for underserved children.

📅 **Tuesday, October 20, 2026**
⏰ **8:00–9:00 PM ET**
🎓 **1 Hour LIVE CE | AGD PACE Code: 250**

🔗 **Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3000971211277161312?source=Email

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Gabrielle Sommers!

We’re excited to celebrate Gabrielle, a University of Minnesota dental therapy student, on receiving a Dental Trade Alliance Foundation Scholarship!

The scholarship recognizes students for their academic achievement, leadership, financial need, and commitment to improving access to oral health care.

Gabrielle’s commitment to that mission is already reflected in her work. Her capstone focuses on the financial sustainability of Minnesota’s safety-net and critical-access dental clinics, and she plans to bring her skills as a future dental therapist to an FQHC or nonprofit setting.

👏 Congratulations, Gabrielle! We’re proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and the next generation of dental therapy leaders working to make oral health care more accessible.

10/07/2026

Children’s oral health belongs in Head Start.

Today, ADTA submitted a public comment urging the federal government to preserve Head Start’s oral health protections.

A proposed federal rule would remove requirements for daily toothbrushing, checking that children are up to date on dental care, and ensuring needed follow-up treatment.

Head Start helps families facing barriers to care connect children with preventive services and treatment. Early access supports children’s health and can reduce costly treatment later.

Every child deserves access to oral health care, regardless of income or where they live. ADTA advocates for policies that advance equity and strengthen community-centered care.

Read the proposed Head Start changes.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16134/reducing-federal-burden-for-head-start-programs

This NPRM proposes to rescind and replace the Head Start Program Performance Standards (Performance Standards), last revised in 2024. The proposed Performance Standards would significantly reduce Federal bureaucratic burden on programs; defer to State policies wherever possible; return...

10/04/2026

💡 Did you know?

Dental therapists are an important part of the dental care team, providing routine preventive and restorative services within their scope of practice.

Research has linked dental therapist care with more preventive services and fewer extractions, while newer evidence highlights their role in supporting patient-centered oral health outcomes.

By bringing these services into the communities where they work, dental therapists can help expand access to oral health care and strengthen the dental workforce.

📚 Explore the research:
🔗 More preventive care & fewer extractions: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6019600/
🔗 Patient-centered oral health outcomes: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42482071/

Follow along as we continue sharing the facts about dental therapy!

10/03/2026

🦷 Thinking about developing a dental therapy education program? This webinar is for you.
Join Dr. Caswell Evans and Dr. Cheyanne Warren for Innovative Pathways to Accessible Dental Programs, featuring insights and practical resources for educators interested in developing dental therapy education programs.
The presentation builds on their session featured at the recent American Dental Therapy Education Association meeting in Detroit.
📅 Tuesday, October 20, 2026
⏰ 6:00–7:00 PM ET
💻 Free webinar
Presented by Floridians for Dental Access and the American Dental Therapy Association.
🔗 Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jisDZgd3RqaLABR19uVM7w #/registration
We hope to see you there!

10/02/2026

😁 Some smiles are just contagious — and around here, smiles are kind of our thing.
Today is , your official excuse to smile a little bigger, laugh a little louder, and give someone else a reason to smile, too.
Here’s to the dental therapists, oral health professionals, and communities creating more reasons to smile every day. 💙
Consider this your sign to show some teeth! 😁

10/02/2026

Two workforces. A shared commitment to the communities we serve.

At , American Dental Therapy Association Executive Director Kari Ann Kuntzelman and Vice President Dana Obey presented Expanding the Oral Health Workforce: Understanding Dental Therapy, exploring its history, Tribal leadership, education pathways, and complementary role alongside dental hygiene.

Our message: equity means addressing who gets care, who can provide it, who gets opportunity, and who shapes the system.

On Monday, September 28, they also met with ADHA leadership to explore potential partnership opportunities that advance shared workforce and access to care goals.

Moving forward, this effort aims to support both dental hygienists and dental therapists—strengthening opportunities for the workforce while keeping community at the center.

Thank you, American Dental Hygienists’ Association, for your support and collaboration.

Join the movement. Your membership and support help ADTA sustain this work.
https://americandentaltherapyassociation.org/join-adta/

10/01/2026

What do you think about this? October is National Dental Hygiene Month! 🦷🍂

ADTA celebrates dental hygienists and their essential role in prevention, education, and healthier communities.

Building a sustainable, equitable oral health workforce takes collaboration, accessible educational pathways, and professionals working together to expand access to care.

A special shoutout to for elevating professional voices and strengthening connections across our professions!

Different pathways. Shared purpose. Healthier communities. 💜