Training local dental therapists to improve rural access to care

For residents of rural and northern Saskatchewan, accessing oral health care can mean travelling long distances or delaying treatment because services are not readily available.

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Dentistry is helping address these challenges through its Bachelor of Science in Dental Therapy program, which trains oral health-care professionals in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, La Ronge and Regina to serve communities throughout the province.

Established in 2023, the degree program provides a direct-entry pathway into a rewarding health-care career, allowing students to pursue their education closer to home and prepare to work in their communities.

"One of the most effective ways we can improve access to oral health care in rural and northern Saskatchewan is to train professionals in the regions where they are needed," said Dr. Walter Siqueira, dean of the USask College of Dentistry. "By offering dental therapy education in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, La Ronge and Regina, we're creating opportunities for students to build meaningful careers while helping address an important health-care need."

Dental therapy students at USask Prince Albert Campus - Photo credit: Matt Smith

Bringing essential care closer to home

Dental therapists are important members of the oral health-care team, providing preventive and basic restorative services, including oral examinations, X-rays, fillings, certain tooth extractions and preventive treatments. They also educate patients and communities about maintaining good oral health.

Their role is particularly important in rural, northern and Indigenous communities where access to dental services may be limited. By providing essential care closer to home, dental therapists help reduce barriers to treatment and promote better oral health.

Dr. Walter Yim, assistant director, academic, for the Dental Therapy program in Prince Albert, says the opportunity to train locally is an important advantage.

"Students can earn a university degree and develop the clinical skills needed to enter a rewarding health-care profession," said Yim. "For students from Prince Albert, La Ronge, Regina and surrounding communities, it means having the opportunity to train closer to home and potentially build a career caring for the people in their own communities."

The program also provides an additional pathway for individuals with previous dental education. At the USask campus in Saskatoon, up to seven students each year who are internationally trained dentists or graduates of dental hygiene programs can enter directly into the second year of the dental therapy program, building on their previous education and clinical knowledge.

Affordable care while students learn

The program also benefits communities through reduced-cost oral health-care services provided by senior students at dental therapy clinics in Prince Albert, La Ronge, Regina as well as the main dental education clinic at the Saskatoon USask campus.

Under professional supervision, students gain valuable hands-on clinical experience while providing patients with more affordable access to essential dental treatments.

"Our students are not only preparing for future careers. Through their supervised clinical training, they're already helping people access oral health care," said Yim. "It's a direct benefit to both the students and the communities we serve."

With the capacity to train up to 28 students annually across its Saskatchewan locations, the program is helping develop a sustainable oral health-care workforce, particularly in communities where access to dental services remains a challenge.

"This is about more than educating dental therapists," said Siqueira. "It's about strengthening health-care capacity and making essential oral health services more accessible to Saskatchewan residents, regardless of where they live."

Applications open for fall 2027

Applications for the fall 2027 intake of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Therapy program are now open, with a deadline of Feb. 15, 2027.

The two-year program offers a direct-entry opportunity for eligible high school graduates and others interested in pursuing a career in oral health care.

The Bachelor of Science in Dental Therapy program is offered by the USask College of Dentistry in partnership with the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA), Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Northlands College.

Learn more: Dental Therapy - Admissions | University of Saskatchewan