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In April 1974 the
Saskatchewan Dental Therapists Association (SDTA) was founded. In
1981 The Saskatchewan Dental Therapists Act was legislated and the
title “dental therapist” replaced “dental nurse”. Both The
Saskatchewan Dental Nurses Act and The Saskatchewan Dental
Therapists Act provided the authority to the SDTA to license and
regulate their own profession, which at that time was unique.
The
first dental nurses graduating class was in 1974 with 35 dental
nurses. These 35 dental nurses were complemented with 15 dental
nurses imported from Great Britain
to make a complement of 50 dental nurses who implemented the
Saskatchewan Health Dental Plan (SHDP) in the fall of 1974.
The dental
services were provided in school-based dental clinics by licensed
dental nurses and certified dental assistants who worked in teams
with indirect supervision by dentists who were also employed by the
Saskatchewan Health Dental Plan. The plan included most routine
dental services such as examinations, x-rays, preventive services,
fillings, extractions, pulpotomies, crowns, and space maintainers.
Dental nurses were also trained to do mandibular blocks, which was
controversial at the time.
Dental clinics
were located in schools with the cooperation of school boards and
the Department of Education. Dental teams visited schools on a
regular basis, usually once a year. Parents were encouraged to
participate in the program by accompanying their children to the
clinics. There were no premiums or enrollment fees. Invitations
were sent to parents with children who were eligible based on the
year of birth.
In the first
year of the Saskatchewan Health Dental Plan children born in 1968
(6-year olds) were eligible to enroll. They were required to be
registered under the Saskatchewan Hospital and Medical Care Plans.
In 1975, children
aged 5, 6 and 7 were eligible; in 1976, children aged 5, 6, 7 and 8;
with the SHDP continuing to expand until children age 3-15 were
included. In 1981, adolescents were included in the SHDP. Some
were treated by dental therapists in school clinics, while others
were referred to private practice dentists to receive treatment and
prevention services at no charge.
By 1987, the last year of the SHDP, there were 578 permanent dental
clinics in schools throughout
Saskatchewan. A few remained temporary, in which portable equipment
was used. In the early years of the SHDP, transportation of
children to the school clinics was often provided by SHDP staff.
This was to ensure accessibility to services.
External evaluations (A Quality Evaluation of Specific Dental
Services Provided by the Saskatchewan Dental Plan – February 1976;
Performance of the Saskatchewan Health Dental Plan, 1974-1980 – D.
W. Lewis, February 1976; Social Class and Dental Care Utilization –
Evelyn Swanson, Fall 1976) of the SHDP concluded that
children had no
fear of the dental clinic or personnel and considered it a “routine”
part of school. Dental
therapists were well trained to provide prevention and treatment
services, and work done by dental therapists was superior to work
done by private practice dentists.
In 1987 the Saskatchewan Dental Plan employed over 400 staff in 6
regions, including dental therapists, dental assistants, dentists,
administrators, support staff, dental technicians and head office
staff. The client participation rate in the SHDP in 1987 was 90%.
In June 1987, the Progressive Conservative (PC) government
privatized the SHDP. This became the Children’s Dental Plan (CDP).
The CDP covered the cost of routine dental services for children age
5-12 in dental offices.
In 1993, the NDP
government eliminated the Children’s Dental Plan.
In
1987 when the SDHP was privatized, over 400 staff lost their jobs;
the majority were women and many lived in rural communities. The
Saskatchewan Health, Community Services Branch retained the 18 most
senior dental therapists. These dental therapists became dental
health educators and began the Saskatchewan Health, Dental Health
Education Program. The program’s goal was to provide health
education and preventive services to Saskatchewan children. This
program was transferred to health districts in 1995 and continues
today in health regions. It has expanded to include 24 dental
therapists who provide a wide range of primary prevention services,
health promotion, and needs assessment to people of all ages.
In 1997, The
Dental Disciplines Act was legislated. This provided the authority
for each individual dental profession to license and regulate their
own profession. As the SDTA had this authority since its inception
in 1974, this legislation provided more opportunities for employers
to employ dental therapists with more flexibility.
Since 1987, dental therapists have been able to broaden their roles
and responsibilities and expand their opportunities. Dental
therapists are currently working in a variety of settings. These
include private practice, teaching institutions, such as the
University of
Saskatchewan
and SIAST as instructors and administrators; in health regions, as
dental health educator/coordinators and administrators; for tribal
councils, as dental therapists and administrators; and for the
provincial and federal governments.
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