Brightening the smiles of your community!
The vision is for Alaska Native people to receive culturally appropriate, excellent, oral healthcare in the communities where they live, with an emphasis on rural communities. The mission is to educate dental therapists to meet the oral health care needs of Alaskan Native people living in rural communities by utilizing evidence-based methodologies.
The Alaska Dental Therapy Educational Program is operated in partnership with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC). This program supports students in becoming dental professionals by providing the opportunity to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Health Therapy. This degree can facilitate the transition into higher level career pathways, such as a baccalaureate degree, or degrees in dental hygiene and dentistry.
Dental therapy students will complete seven semesters of classes with 3.5 semesters being completed in Anchorage and 3.5 semesters being completed in Bethel. Students complete the majority of their clinical experiences at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation facilities. This includes traveling to remote communities to provide oral health care. The course of study is equivalent to three academic years.
Upon graduation, Dental Health Aide Therapists are typically employed with a Tribal Health Organization and will provide clinical and educational services in communities throughout the state.
Degree Outcomes
- Competently and ethically provide the public with evidence-based dental therapy care using effective decision making within the scope of practice outlined in the CHAP CB Standards and Procedures document.
- Integrate Alaska Native/American Indian knowledge, values and culture into business practice.
- Communicate effectively with patients, peers, the public and other health professionals using verbal, non-verbal and written language.
- Competently assess, plan, implement and evaluate individual and community oral disease prevention and therapy programs.
- Apply critical thinking skills to investigate, interpret, and communicate issues involving the profession, the practice, the community, and the patient.
Admission Requirements & Prerequisites
Those interested in learning more about this training program are encouraged to contact the Program Director, Sarah Shoffstall-Cone, sshoffstallcone@anthc.org
Programs Offered
Associate of Applied Science, Dental Health Therapy
Potential Careers
This program leads to becoming a Dental Health Aide Therapist. Begin Today!