Filling a need

Rachel Wangen, a 2021 Dental Hygiene graduate and a 2022 Advanced Dental Therapy graduate, is helping increase access to oral health care.

Not only were you one of just three students in the first cohort of the Advanced Dental Therapy program at Minnesota State Mankato, but the program is just one of a handful in the entire country. What was it like to take such a big leap?

I think it was a wonderful, scary and unknown courageous decision the three of us made. We had trust in Minnesota State Mankato and our instructors. We learned together and paved the way for future advancements of the program. Not only is the addition of a dental therapy program beneficial to the University, but it’s also beneficial for the state of Minnesota. There is a lack of dental providers in the state and the addition of a dental therapy program will continue to fill gaps in access to dental care.

What is the difference between a dental hygienist and an advanced dental therapist?

Dental hygienists are preventative care specialists. The role of a dental hygienist in the dental practice is to educate patients about their oral health by providing routine dental care and education on how to prevent cavities, gingivitis and periodontitis or gum disease. Dental therapists are mid-level dental providers similar to physician assistants or nurse practitioners in the medical field. Dental therapists provide routine restorative dental care, such as filling cavities in both adults and children, placing temporary crowns and extracting severely diseased or loose teeth. Both dental hygienists and dental therapists work with a collaborating dentist to determine a plan of care.

What would be helpful to know for others considering becoming an advanced dental

therapist?

It is important to know before pursuing a career in dental therapy that dental therapists are required by law to work in health professional shortage areas that serve low-income and underserved populations or have a patient population base where 50% or more of patients seen by the dental therapist are enrolled in a Minnesota Health Care Program, have a medical disability or chronic condition, or have no health coverage and a gross family income under 200% of the federal poverty level.

What are you up to now?

I started with Oz Family Dentistry in the fall of 2022 as a dental hygienist, and after completion of my degree I have been providing care as a dental therapist. Mankato is located in Blue Earth County, which is a designated health professional shortage county.