Pacific University is providing new pathways to a career in healthcare with the addition of a master’s degree program in dental therapy.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation approved the university’s Master of Dental Therapy program in March. Pacific is just the fourth accredited program in the U.S. to offer a dental therapy program and the second to offer a master’s degree. The program will welcome its first six students this fall.
Designed to bridge the gap in oral care in rural and underserved communities, dental therapists are mid-level dental care providers who work under the supervision of a dentist in the way that a physician’s associate works with a physician. Dental therapists are trained to perform basic dental work, including diagnosing and filling simple cavities, performing simple extractions, repairing dental prosthetics, and conducting dental exams.
“The dental therapy profession fits so well within our commitment to serve the public, and especially those who have limited access to a dentist,” said Amy Coplen, director of Pacific’s dental hygiene and dental therapy programs. “It is designed using a public health mindset, particularly to serve those with the least access to care. It fits with Pacific’s mission to pursue justice in our world.”
Dental therapy students will learn concurrently with Pacific dental hygiene students for the first two years of the program, with additional courses specific to the skills required of dental therapists. The third year will consist primarily of practicum experiences, allowing students to hone their craft in clinical settings under the supervision of licensed dentists.
Upon completion of the program, students will earn a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene and a master’s degree in dental therapy.
According to the American Dental Therapy Association, 14 states recognize the dental therapy profession, including eight in the Western U.S. The Oregon Legislature approved dental therapy in 2021, thanks in part to the advocacy of Pacific faculty members.
The program’s accreditation is the culmination of nearly a decade of advocacy for the profession by Pacific. The university partnered with Willamette Dental Group to pilot a dental therapy program from 2020 to 2023, which educated 17 licensed therapists.
The No. 1 private preparer of healthcare providers in Oregon, Pacific University now offers 18 graduate-level degrees in healthcare sciences, along with professional bachelor’s degrees in dental hygiene and vision science.