In response to what Fort Hays State University sees as a shortage of dentists in Kansas, the Administration intends to create a bachelor’s degree program for registered dental practitioners if the Legislature authorizes this category of mid-level provider, according to The Topeka Capital-Journal.

The Journal reports that FHSU president Ed Hammond testified during a meeting of the Home-and-Community-Based Services Oversight Committee that the university would develop a baccalaureate degree program to train registered dental practitioners in Kansas.

These “registered dental practitioners” would be responsible for routine dental treatments such as teeth cleanings, fillings and preventive care.

Previous bills written to establish a dentistry career track, similar to nurse practitioners working with physicians, have not been passed by Kansas House or Senate committees.

The Journal further states that this time around the Kansas Health Foundation is funding the Kansas Dental Project, a campaign to convince Kansas lawmakers that registered dental practitioners would improve services to Kansas by working in conjunction with dentists and dental hygienists.

They claim that currently 93 counties in Kansas do not enough dentists to serve their residents.

Fort Hays State University is the fastest growing of the Kansas Board of Regents universities. It is located in Hays, Kansas, and is a state, tax-assisted institution.

For more on this story in The Topeka Capital-Journal see: FHSU endorses new dental career path