title: Profile of the dental therapy graduate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dental Therapists were introduced to the oral health team of South Africa in the 1970s by the Department of Health in order to assist in reducing inequities in oral health service provision to disadvantaged communities. Training occurred at two historically disadvantaged universities viz. Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA) and the University of Durban-Westville (UDW). However, disparities in access to basic oral healthcare have continued, in contrast to the success of similar initiatives recorded by over fifty countries around the world. In 2006, the Department of Health recommended that, as Dental Therapists were critical to the provision of primary oral healthcare, their training must be offered by all dental schools. Further, the recommendation proposed that the number trained annually should be increased from 25 (in 2005) to 600 by 2009. In response, concern was expressed by the stakeholders such as the South African Dental Association (SADA) and the Committee of Dental Deans. The SADA position paper on dental therapy called for an immediate moratorium on the training of Dental Therapists until all stakeholders had debated these issues. It is clear that the issue has not been resolved and that additional data pertinent to the training and deployment of this echelon of oral healthcare workers is required.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to critically evaluate the application, enrolment and graduate profiles of the dental therapy classes and graduates over the period from 2001 to 2010 from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), in order to provide baseline data for a larger study which is being conducted by the researcher on the role of the dental therapist in the healthcare system of South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative data was obtained from the Data Management Information system of UKZN on application, enrolment and graduate profiles. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel software. Basic measures of description such as tables, graphs and percentages were displayed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The applicant profile showed an exponential increase in number from 460 in 2001to 3 845 in 2010. The enrolment profile showed a linear increase from 8 in 1980 to 81 in 2010. The enrolments showed a preponderance of females, whilst all students on entrance were under 20 years of age. The racial breakdown revealed that up to 2007, more Indians than Africans were enrolled. After 2007, this trend was reversed. The graduate profile showed an upward shift around a mean of 16 graduates per year. Practice patterns showed that 47% of graduates worked in private practice, 19% went on to study dentistry, 10% worked in the public sector, 7% no longer worked in the dental profession. Nearly one fifth (16%) could not be traced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conflicting reports and opinions on the dental therapy profession exist among major stakeholders such as the Department of Health, the South African Dental Association and the Committee of Dental Deans. Before any decisions are made on the training of extended numbers of Dental Therapists, it is important to compile a comprehensive profile of the dental therapy graduate which will assist all the relevant stakeholders to make informed decisions about this profession.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. kissoonp@ukzn.ac.za
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Combrinck
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003729:Dental Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017150:Public Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult