AAE Opposes Proposed Expansion of Dental Therapists’ Scope of Practice in Minnesota 

The Minnesota Board of Dentistry is considering proposed revisions to state regulations that would expand the scope of practice for dental therapists. These changes represent a significant shift in Minnesota’s long-standing regulatory framework governing the delivery of dental care. If adopted, the proposal would blur established professional roles, weaken accountability, and raise serious concerns about patient safety and standards of care. 

In response, the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) submitted formal opposition to the Board, emphasizing that scope-of-practice decisions must align with a provider’s education, training, and level of clinical responsibility. Endodontists complete rigorous, Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)–accredited postdoctoral education to ensure competence in diagnosing and managing complex disease. Expanding dental therapists’ authority beyond their intended supportive role risks delegating critical clinical responsibilities to practitioners who are not trained to assume them independently. 

The AAE also underscored that this issue extends beyond access to care. While improving access is an important policy objective, it cannot come at the expense of safety, quality, or professional standards. Expanding scope of practice by redefining core clinical responsibilities sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the dentist-led model of care that has long protected patients. Dental therapists play an important role on the oral health care team, but that role is designed to complement, not replace, dentist oversight and accountability. 

Additionally, expanding scope of practice risks creating confusion for patients about provider qualifications and responsibility for care. When regulatory lines are blurred, patients may reasonably assume that all providers are equally trained to deliver the same level of care. This confusion erodes public trust in the dental care delivery system and conflicts with the Board’s fundamental responsibility to protect public health. 

The AAE urged the Minnesota Board of Dentistry to reject the proposed scope-of-practice expansion and to maintain existing regulatory definitions that appropriately reflect education, training, and professional responsibility. The Association also called for additional stakeholder engagement, including meaningful dialogue with dental specialty organizations, before advancing any further changes. 

Through consistent, evidence-based advocacy, the AAE continues to stand firm against regulatory efforts that threaten patient safety and professional standards. Our engagement in Minnesota reflects the Association’s ongoing commitment to protecting the integrity of dental specialties—and to supporting endodontists as they provide high-quality, specialist-level care to patients every day.