Methods: Telephone questionnaire survey of a random, representative sample of the adult population of South Yorkshire (n=500)
Results: Only 15% of adults had heard of a dental therapist of which: 38% believed they were permitted to extract deciduous teeth; 28% to extract permanent teeth; 46% to administer local anaesthesia; 55% to provide restoration; 26% to provide crown and bridges; 88% to scale teeth and give preventive advice.
Having received information on therapists' training, 57% were happy to have a restoration provided by them, and 87% to receive periodontal treatment and prevention advice. Levels of acceptability of therapists providing treatment for children were lower - fewer than half were happy for them to carry out restorations (47%), local anaesthesia (48%) and extractions (44%) and only 69% were happy for them to place fissure sealants. Respondents with children under 16 were more likely to find permitted treatments provided by therapists acceptable (p<0.05).
Acceptability of treatment declined with age, but was greater in those with treatment need and poor access to care. Similar proportions of respondents expected to pay the same (45%), and less (40%), for treatment from a therapist.
Conclusions: Awareness of the existence and permitted duties of dental therapists was low and the social acceptability of treatment provided by dental therapists varied. These data have important implications for the use of skill-mix in dentistry.
Further research to explore the reasons for views on acceptability is required.