Public awareness and social acceptability of dental therapists.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate public awareness and the social acceptability of dental treatment provided by dental therapists in the UK.


METHODS
A telephone survey of a representative quota sample of 1,000 UK adults.


RESULTS
10.4% of participants were aware of dental therapists as a professional group, of whom none correctly identified their permitted duties. 61.3% were willing to receive simple restorative treatment from a therapist, with acceptability predicted by being male [OR 1.44 (95% CI 1.09-1.90)], being younger [OR 1.024 (1.016-1.032)] and having a perceived need for treatment [OR 1.49 (1.09-2.5)]. Fewer were willing to allow a therapist to restore a child's tooth (54.7%, p <0.001, McNemar's test) with acceptability predicted by being younger [OR 1.026 (1.018-1.034)]. Those receiving some private treatment were less likely to report acceptability of simple restorative treatment for themselves [OR 0.61 (0.46-0.81)] or for children [OR 0.54 (0.41-0.72)]. 48.2% of participants expected to pay less for treatment provided by therapists, with acceptability of equal costs predicted by the participant being male [OR 1.81 (1.50-2.40)].


CONCLUSIONS
These findings identify a need for education and reassurance of the public on the training and permitted duties of dental therapists and the rationale for skill-mix in dentistry.
Dyer
T A
TA
University of Sheffield, Claremont Crescent, Sheffield, S10 2TA. t.dyer@sheffield.ac.uk
Humphris
G
G
Robinson
P G
PG
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries; D003729:Dental Care; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005250:Fees, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011364:Professional Practice; D011639:Public Opinion; D012737:Sex Factors; D012928:Social Desirability; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000601:surgery; D006113:United Kingdom
D000779:Anesthetics, Local