Oral Health Program: Dental Therapist
Dental therapists are trained to work in dental shortage areas as part of a dentist-led team complementing the work of dental hygienists and dental assistants. Responsibilities may include:
- Performing oral exams.
- Preparing and filling cavities.
- Performing tooth extractions.
- Providing education and preventive care to communities.
- Working in dental health care professional shortage
areas.
Why become a dental therapist?
- Interest in direct patient care, health, and science
- Passion for increasing access to dental care
- Ability to perform a wide variety of procedures including preventing and treating oral disease
- Takes less time to be trained and educated
How do I become a dental therapist?
You must be a graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program and hold a Wisconsin dental hygiene license to
apply for the only dental therapy program in the state. Prerequisites vary across dental therapy programs and must be reviewed prior to applying. Northcentral Technical College has the only dental therapy program offering an associate degree in Wisconsin.
Graduates must apply for a Wisconsin dental therapy license upon graduating from an accredited dental therapy program. Those who graduate (or graduated) from an out-of-state dental therapy program may also apply for a Wisconsin dental therapy license.
Learn about the requirements and application for a Wisconsin Dental Therapist license!
Additional resources
- Become a Dental Therapist P-03696, (PDF): Learn about what dental therapists do, why to become one, and how to become one.
- The Path to Becoming a Dental Therapist P-03698, (PDF): Learn about the pathway to become a dental therapist in Wisconsin.
- What is a Dental Therapist?, The Pew Charitable Trusts: Watch this video to learn more about dental therapy and what the profession does.
- Dental Therapy 101 (PDF), National Partnership for Dental Therapy: Learn more about dental therapy and how it helps oral health.
- Dental Therapy, Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin (CHAW): This webpage provides an in-depth look at dental therapy, resources, and information on becoming a dental therapist in Wisconsin.
- Dental Therapy 101, CHAW: Watch this recorded webinar to learn about the basics of dental therapy in Wisconsin.
- Licensure of Dental Therapists in Wisconsin, CHAW: Watch this recorded webinar to learn about the licensure of dental therapists in Wisconsin.
- State of Wisconsin Jobs Recruitment: Search current openings for dental positions at the State of Wisconsin.