Lawmakers seek ‘dental therapists’

A bipartisan group of New Mexico lawmakers is seeking to expand dental care in rural areas by creating a new system of licensed dental workers.

The legislators are seeking to establish licensing for dental therapists — a midlevel professional between a dentist and a hygienist — the Albuquerque Journal reported Thursday.

A proposal that aimed to establish a licensing system was approved in the House during the last legislative session, but it failed to reach the Senate floor. It would have allowed dental therapists to practice in the state.

A new group of lawmakers is

reviving the effort.

Reps. Yvette Herrell and Dennis Roch have signed up for the push as well as Sens. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Benny Shendo and Bill Tallman. The next 30-day legislative session starts Jan. 16.

Dental therapists are comparable to physician assistants and nurse practitioners, said Barbara Webber, executive director of the advocacy group Health Action New Mexico.

To become a dental therapist, it would require an associate degree likely through a threeyear community college program, Webber said.

The job could pay between $60,000 and $70,000 a year.

New Mexico has one of the worst rates of gum disease occurrence.

Around half of the population statewide has advanced gum disease, Webber said.