Health Careers
Dental Health Aide (DHA)
Professional Activities
Like Community Health Aides/Practitioners, Dental Health Aides (DHAs) are unique to Alaska, and provide care to individuals in remote communities without regular access to dentists. DHAs live in rural Alaskan villages and deliver dental disease prevention and education services. The Dental Health Aide Therapists (DHATs), one type of DHA, do some minor irreversible procedures such as cavity removal, fillings and simple extractions. DHA’s assist dentists and other dental health care providers during their trips to their communities. DHAs are supervised by a dentist or other dental providers. DHAs generally live and work in remote areas, communicating regularly with their supervisor by telemedicine, telephone, e-mail, or radio. Some DHAs practice in the regional hub facilities with dental support provided locally.
Dental Health Aides are generally employed by their tribal health organization or, less often, by their tribal councils. Tribal health organizations usually make the selection for employment and training. Some DHAs work as itinerants, working in a number of different villages each year.
Educational Requirements
- Math and English skills at or beyond the 6th grade level. Some employers require higher level courses. DHATs require a higher standard for admission (such as a GDE certificate or high school graduation ) into a training program. Experience with college level courses is preferred for DHATs.
- There are currently 5 levels of dental health aides, each with their own scope of work and standards. Primary Dental Health Aide I & II, Expanded Function Dental Health Aide I & II, and Dental Health Aide Therapist.
- All DHAs may obtain certification at their level of training by meeting program requirements determined by the CHA Program Certification Board.
Academic Programs
Dental Health Aide training sessions are organized by the Tribal Regional Health Organizations such as SouthCentral Foundation in Anchorage or the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel, and are usually held at a hub dental program. The DHAT Training Program is held in Anchorage and Bethel. Contact your local dental program or tribal health program for more information.
More information can also be found at the following websites:
Website: http://www.dentexak.washington.edu
Website: http://www.akchap.org (See Dental Therapist Training Program)
Website: http://www.anthc.org/ (See Dental Health Aides provide care in rural Alaska)
Contacts
State Contact:
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Dr. Mary Williard
Phone: (907) 729-5600
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on October 13, 2009
