Forest Grove, Ore.-based Pacific University has launched a master’s degree program in dental therapy.
The school received approval from the Commission on Dental Accreditation in March, making it the fourth accredited dental therapy program in the U.S. and making Pacific University the second school to offer a master’s degree in dental therapy, according to an April 2 news release.
Dental therapy students will learn beside dental hygiene students at the university for the first two years of the program while also taking courses to learn skills specific to dental therapists, according to the news release. They will begin training in clinical settings under the supervision of a licensed dentist during their third year.
The new program comes after Oregon authorized dental therapy in 2021. The university also partnered with Willamette Dental Group to pilot a dental therapy program from 2020 to 2023, which resulted in 17 licensed dental therapists.
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