A new kind of dental provider, the dental therapist, is now licensed to practice in 14 states in 2026, and the movement is growing. Dental therapists are trained to deliver routine care such as exams, cleanings, sealants, and fillings under a dentist's supervision, and they often work in the schools, mobile units, and community clinics where families struggle most to find care. In January 2026 Michigan licensed its first dental therapist, followed by a second in April, and it is now standing up the state's first training program, a sign of how quickly this workforce is spreading.
For parents who have waited months for a pediatric appointment or driven hours to reach a dentist who takes Medicaid, this shift matters. Here is what dental therapists actually do, where they are allowed, and what their arrival could mean for your family's access to care.
What is a dental therapist, and how are they different from a dentist?
A dental therapist is a licensed mid-level provider who performs routine and preventive dental care under a dentist's supervision, roughly the way a physician assistant works alongside a doctor. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS, 2026), dental therapists deliver exams, cleanings, and fillings and can practice in private offices, schools, mobile clinics, and community health centers. Their training is shorter and less costly than the path to becoming a dentist, which is part of why states see them as a faster way to fill provider gaps.
The key distinction is scope. A dentist completes doctoral-level training and handles the full range of diagnosis, surgery, and complex treatment. A dental therapist focuses on a defined set of preventive and basic restorative procedures. A dental hygienist, by contrast, concentrates on cleanings and preventive services and generally cannot place fillings. The table below breaks down how the three roles compare for a typical family visit.
| Provider | Typical training | What they do for your family | Places fillings? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentist | Doctoral degree (DDS or DMD) | Full diagnosis, surgery, crowns, root canals, complex care | Yes |
| Dental therapist | Post-secondary or bachelor-level program | Exams, cleanings, sealants, fillings, simple extractions under supervision | Yes |
| Dental hygienist | Associate or bachelor degree | Cleanings, sealants, fluoride, preventive education | No |
Key facts on dental therapy in 2026
- 14 states authorize dental therapists to practice in at least some settings as of 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin (National Partnership for Dental Therapy, 2026).
- Nearly 58 million people in the United States live in areas without enough dental providers, a gap dental therapists are meant to help close (National Partnership for Dental Therapy, 2026, citing federal shortage-area data).
- About one-third of adults report skipping dental care because of cost, one of the barriers a lower-cost provider model aims to reduce (National Partnership for Dental Therapy, 2026).
- Michigan has just 59.1 dentists per 100,000 people, and more than 1.5 million residents live in federally designated dental shortage areas (MDHHS, 2026).
Why are states adding dental therapists now?
States are turning to dental therapists because the dentist shortage is squeezing families faster than dental schools can respond. The same workforce crunch has pushed hospitals to open new residencies, as covered in our report on Akron Children's opening Ohio's fifth pediatric dentistry residency, and prompted debate over expanding the role of hygienists, as we detailed in our coverage of the ADHA's push for doctoral degrees. Dental therapy is a third lever: instead of training more dentists or elevating hygienists, states create a new provider tier positioned squarely in the settings where children go unseen.
The math is straightforward for state officials. A therapist can be trained faster and at lower cost, can practice in schools and mobile clinics, and can free up dentists to focus on complex cases. Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, framed the state's first license this way in 2026:
"Licensing Michigan's first dental therapist is an important step in expanding access to care in underserved areas where there are limited providers."
How does dental therapy help children specifically?
Dental therapists help children by bringing basic care into the places kids already are, especially schools and community clinics, rather than waiting for families to reach a dental office. Untreated tooth decay remains the most common chronic disease of childhood, and it drives missed school days and painful emergency visits. Because therapists are authorized to place sealants and fillings, not just clean teeth, they can actually treat cavities on site instead of only referring them out, which is where many children fall through the cracks.
The community-based focus is deliberate. Programs frequently place therapists in tribal, rural, and low-income communities that have historically had the fewest providers. In practice, a child in an underserved district could receive a school-based exam, a cleaning, sealants, and a filling from a therapist working under a supervising dentist, all without a long referral wait.
Where can families actually see a dental therapist today?
Families can see a dental therapist today only in the 14 authorizing states, and even there the workforce is still small and concentrated in safety-net settings. Michigan is a useful example of how new this is: the state licensed its first therapist, Dana Obey, in January 2026 and its second in April 2026, according to MDHHS. In states such as Alaska, Minnesota, and Washington, where dental therapy has operated longer, therapists are more established in tribal health systems and community clinics.
In states that authorize the role, therapists work inside dentist-led teams, so families will still find them within traditional practices and clinics. In Arizona Dental Health country, for example, Arizona is one of the 14 states where team-based practices can legally add a therapist to extend a dentist's reach. If your state is not on the list, your family will not encounter a dental therapist yet, though the map is expanding session by session, echoing the broader wave of workforce changes we tracked in state dental reforms passed in 2026.
What is next for dental therapy?
The next phase is training, because a license category means little without schools to fill it. Michigan is launching its first dental therapy training program at Ferris State University, led by Dr. Deborah Brown, chief executive of the nonprofit My Community Dental Centers, and supported by an 85,000 dollar MDHHS grant funded through the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (Ferris State University, 2026). Dr. Lincoln Gibbs, dean of the College of Health Professions, called it "an exciting new chapter" that will give students "in-demand skills that will allow them to help people across Michigan and beyond."
As more states authorize the role and more programs open, families in currently excluded states may see dental therapy debated in their own legislatures. For now, the practical takeaway is simple: whether your child is seen by a dentist, a hygienist, or a therapist, the goal is the same, getting kids into a dental home early and keeping decay from becoming an emergency.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dental therapist as safe as a dentist for my child?
Within their defined scope, dental therapists practice under a supervising dentist and are trained specifically in the routine procedures they perform, such as cleanings, sealants, and fillings. Complex or surgical care is still referred to a dentist.
Will a dental therapist cost my family less?
The model is designed to lower costs by using a provider whose training is shorter and less expensive, and by reaching patients in schools and community clinics. Actual out-of-pocket cost still depends on your insurance and the clinic, so confirm coverage before your visit.
How do I know if my state allows dental therapists?
As of 2026, the 14 authorizing states are Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. If your state is not listed, ask your dentist or community health center, since rules change each legislative session.
Can a dental therapist be my child's regular provider?
A dental therapist can handle routine and preventive visits as part of a dentist-led team, but your child still has a supervising dentist for diagnosis and complex care. Think of the therapist as an added member of the care team rather than a replacement for the dentist.
Updated July 2026. Sources: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the National Partnership for Dental Therapy, and Ferris State University.
