Michigan licenses second dental therapist to help increase access to dental care; address workforce shortages  

State’s first dental therapy training program gets closer to launch as  
Ferris StateUniversity taps nonprofit dental care expert to lead  

LANSING, Mich. – As part of an effort by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to increase access to dental care, the state has licensed its second dental therapist who is practicing in southeast Michigan.  

Dental therapists are licensed providers trained to deliver routine dental care including exams, cleanings and fillings under a dentist’s supervision. Because they focus on a limited set of procedures, training is faster and more affordable than traditional dental school – three to six years compared to eight years. Jamie Toney was licensed as a dental therapist in February and practices at The Wellness Plan Medical Center in Metro Detroit. Her licensure follows on the heels of Dana Obey, who provides dental therapy services in the Upper Peninsula.  

“Dental therapists are an important addition to the state’s dental workforce,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “They are helping expand access to care, especially for residents in underserved areas where there are limited providers, which is an important focus for the department.”  

Dental therapists can practice in traditional private offices and non-traditional settings such as schools, mobile clinics and community health centers. The profession has existed globally for more than 100 years and is authorized in at least 14 states.  

"I take great pride in serving my community and being in a role that helps expand care for underserved populations, which allows me to give back to the place I call home in a meaningful way.” said Toney. “For anyone who feels called to the dental field and is passionate about community impact and health equity, I encourage you to explore dental therapy. It is a powerful profession that is helping create meaningful change in Detroit and throughout the state of Michigan." 

While Michigan has 59.1 dentists per 100,000 people, they are not equally distributed throughout the state or representative of the populations they serve. More than 1.5 million residents live in federally designated dental shortage areas with limited access to care. This includes children and seniors, low-income families, pregnant women, people with disabilities and rural residents.  

Dental therapists are uniquely trained to serve these populations, helping to:  

• Reduce wait times.  

• Expand access cost effectively.  

• Ease pressure on existing providers.  

• Improve cultural and linguistic representation in care.  

Currently, only five dental therapy training programs exist nationally. Ferris State University is developing Michigan’s first program to help increase the number of dental therapists in the state. Ferris recently chose Dr. Deborah Brown, chief executive officer at My Community Dental Centers, to lead the program. A non-profit organization operating dental clinics across Michigan, My Community Dental Centers provide comprehensive dental care to all, including Medicaid beneficiaries and the uninsured. 

“Throughout my career, my focus has always been expanding access to oral health care for communities in need,” said Dr. Brown. “Dental therapists are an important part of strengthening the oral health workforce and reaching patients who have historically faced barriers to care. I’m honored to join Ferris State University in helping educate and mentor the next generation of providers who will continue advancing that mission.”  

MDHHS is assisting Ferris State with program development through a federal Health Resources and Services Administration oral health workforce grant. This includes $85,000 in funding to help the university hire a consultant to assist with curriculum design and accreditation through the Commission on Dental Accreditation.  

Learn more about dental therapy at MI Dental Access.  

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