Vermonters desperately need better and better dental care in the most rural parts of the state, as well as for Vermonters with lower incomes. That’s why, in 2016, the state legislature passed a law directing Vermont Technical College to create an accredited program to train a new type of dental provider, called dental therapists.
Seven years and more than $2.6 million later, since the 2016 mandate, Vermont does not have a dental therapist program and “has not enrolled a single student,” Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer says in the report his latest on state government.
The best-case scenario, according to a timeline provided to Hoffer by Vermont Technical College, is that the first class of dental therapy students won’t enroll until 2027, more than a decade after the law’s passage.
What is a dental therapist?
Dental therapists would have the skills and training between dental hygienists and dentists. They would be able to perform preventive and routine services under the supervision of a dentist. The idea was that these dental providers could spread across the state, bringing dental care to those communities and people who currently lack it.
Infighting, apathy and bureaucracy: Why there are no dental therapists in Vermont
Hoffer blames several factors for the fiasco, including a lack of ongoing administrative support, competing interests within QAP itself, the ongoing reorganization of the Vermont State College System, key staff turnover and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If policymakers still desire a successful dental therapy program, then they will need to engage with the Vermont State College System (VSCS) and Vermont State University (VSU) leadership and create accountable performance expectations and monitor that performance,” Hoffer wrote in an executive summary. of his investigative report.
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There is a lot at stake. Without access to dental care, many low-income and rural Vermonters develop tooth decay, gum disease and other serious dental problems, according to Hoffer. This has implications for Vermont’s overall health outcomes, he says, because poor oral health increases the risk of heart attack, diabetes, respiratory infections and other debilitating medical conditions.
Most counties in Vermont are desperate for dentists
In his report, Hoffer notes that 12 of Vermont’s 14 counties have areas designated as “Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas.” This means that there are not enough dentists or dental hygienists to meet the needs of these communities. According to the Vermont Department of Health, 37% of young children in Vermont have tooth decay and more than 30% of adults do not visit the dentist each year for preventive care.
“This lack of access to dental care is particularly prevalent in rural areas where dental care providers are lacking,” Hoffer writes.
Where the money was spent to create a dental therapist training program
In his report, Hoffer breaks down the funds the QAP Dental Therapy Program has received without being able to get the program up and running, totaling $2,674,400. Most of the money — $1.6 million — came from the Health Resources and Services Administration, a federal agency. The state of Vermont has chipped in $601,750, and the rest of the funding has come from private grants.
“Despite significant expenditures to date, the lack of any academic programs suggests that even more funding will be needed to advance dental therapy,” Hoffer writes. “Accountability will need to be built into any future funding to avoid a repeat of the failures of the past seven years.”
Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosi@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT. This coverage is only possible with the support of our readers.
