title: Clinical technical performance of dental therapists in Alaska.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Alaska Dental Health Aide Therapist program has matured to the point that therapists have been in practice for up to four years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-study evaluation of the program included assessments of the clinical technical performance of five of these therapists practicing in clinics in small Alaskan villages and towns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicate that therapists are performing at an acceptable level, with short-term restorative outcomes comparable with those of dentists treating the same populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapists' performance when operating within their scope of practice suggested no reason for continued close scrutiny. Further evaluations of therapists should shift their principal focus from clinical technical performance of therapists to effectiveness of the therapist program in improving the targeted population's oral health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapists are capable of providing acceptable restorative treatment under indirect supervision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450, USA. jim_bader@unc.edu
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.forename: Jessica Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Shugars
authors.forename: Barri B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Burrus
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wetterhall
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D003188:Composite Resins; D003442:Crowns; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D019230:Dental Audit; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D004930:Inuit; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013193:Stainless Steel; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003722:Dental Alloys; D013193:Stainless Steel; D003723:Dental Amalgam