Cat Edney considers examples from Africa, Oceania and Canada to determine how global approaches to dental therapy differ from the UK.
Having recently jetted off to Tanzania with Bridge2Aid, how could I not write about the amazing insights I have had into dental therapy outside of the UK, and the lessons we can bring back into our healthcare system in the UK? The main lesson being dental therapy is not an accessory profession – in some parts of the world, it is the frontline of oral healthcare.
While scope, title and training pathways differ internationally, one theme remains consistent: where access to dentistry is limited, dental therapy has been the answer. Looking at how the role functions across Africa, Oceania and Canada reveals not only the adaptability of the profession, but also what intelligent workforce design can achieve.
Africa: access, autonomy and essential care
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