title: On the pediatric oral health therapist: lessons from Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the development of dental therapy in Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Historical review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over its 35-year history in Canada, this model of service delivery experienced a period of great success, but has since degraded, not fulfilling its potential.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To ensure the success of the paediatric oral health therapist, US policy leaders will need to mitigate the challenges that degraded the viability of this form of service provision in Canada.
authors.affiliation: Community Dental Health Services Research Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. carlos.quinonez@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Carlos R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Quiñonez
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Locker
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D006801:Humans; D000078329:Workforce