Dental Therapists

The time for dental therapists is now

Dentists agree: It’s time to train and license dental therapists in New Mexico.

Health Action NM and the NM Dental Hygienist Association reached an unprecedented agreement with the NM Dental Association in late 2015 to create legislation allowing dental therapists to practice in New Mexico. In a recent Legislative Health and Human Services Committee, representatives of the NM Dental Association stood in support the agreement. While the legislature did not consider our bill during the 2015 budget session, all parties continue to support the agreement and plan to advance the bill again in the full-length 2017 session.

NM Coalition for Dental Therapists holds annual meeting.

In March, the NM Coalition for Dental Therapists had its annual meeting to discuss the agreement and strategies going forward. There was a broad consensus that momentum is on our side and, with a strong advocacy effort, we can pass legislation in 2017. Health Action NM is now mobilizing supporters to attend candidate forums to elevate the conversation about dental therapists.

Vermont becomes the next state to embrace dental therapists.

Next week, the Governor of Vermont is expected to sign in to law a bill that allows dental therapists to practice in the state. Vermont will become the 4th state to take action to address its dental care workforce issues by making dental therapists part of the dental care team. Let’s make New Mexico state number 5!

TAKE ACTION

1) Email colin@HealthActionNM.org to learn about candidate forums that you can attend in your district if you would like to advocate for dental therapists.
2) Join the Google Group listserv of the Coalition for Dental Therapists to stay up to date on all things dental therapy in NM.
3) Share a message about dental therapists on Facebook or Twitter.
4) Sign up for monthly Dental Therapist mobile updates by texting “SMILES” to 51555 or click here.

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