Michigan Licenses Its Second Dental Therapist While Other States Still Wait
As many states stall after passing dental therapy laws, Michigan moves forward with its second licensed provider.
Michigan is quietly doing what many states have yet to accomplish: turning dental therapy legislation into real-world workforce expansion. With the recent licensure of its second dental therapist, the state is taking a tangible step toward improving access to oral healthcare, especially in underserved communities. Backed by efforts from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, this milestone reflects more than policy, it reflects implementation.
The newly licensed provider is practicing in southeast Michigan, joining the state’s first dental therapist, who serves patients in the Upper Peninsula. Together, they represent early but meaningful progress in addressing provider shortages that affect more than 1.5 million Michigan residents living in designated dental care health professional shortage areas.
Dental therapists are trained to deliver routine care, including exams, fillings, and preventive services, under the supervision of a dentist. Their focused scope allows for a shorter, more cost-effective training pathway, making them a practical solution to workforce gaps, particularly in community health settings.
For dental hygienists, this growth may feel like a natural extension of prevention-centered care models. Dental therapists often work in similar environments, including public health clinics, schools, and mobile units, where access challenges are most pronounced. For dentists, the conversation remains more complex. Questions about integration, supervision, and scope continue to shape how the profession evolves within existing practice models.
Still, Michigan’s progress highlights a key distinction: passing a law is only the beginning. While more than a dozen states now authorize dental therapy, many have yet to license a single provider. With Ferris State University developing the state’s first dental therapy training program, the pipeline is expected to grow. Click here to read more.
