Impact of dental therapists on productivity and finances: II. Federally Qualified Health Centers

This article estimates the impact of dental therapists treating children on Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) dental clinic finances and productivity. The analysis is based on twelve months of patient visit and financial data from large FQHC dental clinics (multiple delivery sites) in Connecticut and Wisconsin. Assuming dental therapists provide restorative, extraction, and pulpal services and dental hygienists continue to deliver all hygiene services, the maximum reduction in costs is about 6 percent. The limited impact of dental therapists on FQHC dental clinic finances is because 1) dental therapists only account for 17 percent of children services and 2) dentists are responsible for only 25 percent of clinic expenses and cost reductions are related to the difference between dental therapist and dentist wage rates.

Placement of cast restorations over direct pulp capping procedures: a decision analytic approach

A review of the literature shows a significant amount of controversy regarding the success of pulp capping procedures, with the average clinically evaluated pulp capping success being 81%, and 75% when evaluated histologically. This study evaluated the costs and benefits of a pulp cap versus endodontic therapy for a tooth that is to receive a cast restoration, and determined what level of success is needed for pulp capping to be the preferred treatment.