Colorado may become the next U.S. state to begin licensing dental therapists to improve access to oral healthcare, according to an article published online October 22 in Colorado Politics.
In a discussion held on October 21 by the Pew Charitable Trusts and attended largely by dental industry professionals and lobbyists, both Colorado state Sen. Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City) and Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera expressed interest in licensing dental therapists, Politics reported.
Most Colorado counties are designated as dental health professional shortage areas, and the administration of Gov. Jared Polis has decided that action must be taken, Primavera said. In addition, Moreno said that although he hasn't yet authored any bill to legislate dental therapists into existence, he is searching for potential solutions for improving oral health, according to the article.
So far, 12 U.S. states have passed laws enabling dental therapists to serve all or some of their populations, according to Politics.
