Oral health is increasingly recognized as an important component of overall general well-being. As such, it is crucial that Michigan maintain policies that make dental services safe, but also accessible and affordable. The evidence suggests that licensing new dental therapists will help the state meet all three of these goals for its residents and help contribute to a healthier Michigan. This policy brief, in conjuction with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Michigan, examines how creating a new class of midlevel dental providers, called dental therapists or dental hygiene practitioners, could alleviate dentist shortage problems and improve access to routine dental care
Health Care
Transformational Healthcare Reform
Transformational Healthcare Reform Key Points As hospitals and insurance systems have consolidated, patients have faced rising costs and narrower choices, while physicians have lost independence, and control has shifted to a handful of large corporate systems. Price transparency alone is not enough: patients and employers need clear disclosure of actual prices, fees, commissions, conflicts of...
August 21, 2026