Wisconsin’s first dental therapist brings increased access to oral health care

The team at Shawano Family Dentistry is reshaping access to dental care. Nicole Mathew, MDT, RDH Wisconsin’s first licensed dental therapist, is working with Rebecca Stevens, DDS to address the challenges of providing timely dental care in an underserved community.

“It opens the doors to more access to care overall,” said Dr. Stevens, sharing the impact of having a dental therapist in her practice. “Some of our elderly patients need dental clearance for surgery in a limited amount of time or a child is in pain, and it allows us that opportunity to provide care much faster.”

Dental therapists are highly trained licensed oral health practitioners that work with dental teams, similar to the way a physicians’ assistant works with a medical team. Through off-site supervision by a dentist, dental therapists can increase access to care by delivering services in settings that better meet the needs of communities that are underserved. Along with providing education and preventive services, dental therapists can perform common dental procedures such as fillings.

Paving the way to better meet patient needs
Shawano Family Dentistry is in a rural area, with patients traveling up to an hour from smaller neighboring towns to receive care. Before Mathew was practicing as a dental therapist, patients often waited three to four months for appointments.

Being the first to implement dental therapy in Wisconsin, Mathew and Dr. Stevens collaborated closely to educate patients on the many positives dental therapy would have on their oral health care. The team explains the role to patients by comparing it to nurse practitioners or physician assistants in medicine.

It also helped that Mathew had already established relationships with many patients as she was initially their dental hygienist before transitioning to her role as a dental therapist. “I think it helps having that hygiene relationship ahead of time, so they trust me,” Mathew said.

The future of dental therapy
Looking ahead, Shawano Family Dentistry hopes to expand their community outreach efforts, potentially working with schools and nursing homes to provide care to those who might otherwise lack access. For Mathew and Dr. Stevens, their partnership represents not just their own practice growth but the beginning of a new chapter in Wisconsin dental care.

To learn more about dental therapy, visit our Dental Therapy webpage.