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Full-Text Articles in Dental Public Health and Education
Attitudes Of Virginia Dental Hygienists Towards Dental Therapists, Helene M. Burns, Susan L. Tolle, Emily A. Ludwig, Jessica R. Suedbeck
Attitudes Of Virginia Dental Hygienists Towards Dental Therapists, Helene M. Burns, Susan L. Tolle, Emily A. Ludwig, Jessica R. Suedbeck
Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications
Purpose: The state of Virginia faces a reported dental health professional shortage affecting approximately half of its residents.The purpose of this study was to assess the opinions and attitudes of dental hygienists in Virginia toward a mid-level dental provider model, dental therapists (DTs), and to determine whether current education level and years of practice affected opinions regarding the education requirements for DTs.
Methods: A 22-item questionnaire was distributed online to a convenience sample of Virginia dental hygienists (n=910). Items assessed attitudes of participants toward the DT using a seven-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). …