---
title: "What Is Mid-level dental provider? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "A provider category between hygienist and dentist, such as a dental therapist, created in some places to widen access to care."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/mid-level-dental-provider
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Team and HR

# Mid-level dental provider

A provider category between hygienist and dentist, such as a dental therapist, created in some places to widen access to care.

A mid-level dental provider is a clinician whose training and duties fall between those of a hygienist and a dentist. The most common example is the [dental therapist](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-therapist). A dental student's article in a medical journal says the idea of mid-level providers grew from the lack of access to oral care in rural and other underserved communities.

The idea parallels mid-level roles in medicine, such as physician assistants. Titles, training and supervision differ across states and countries. Some states allow these providers and others do not.

Because rules sit in state law, they tie to [scope of practice](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/scope-of-practice) and to [dental hygiene supervision](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-hygiene-supervision) rules. This entry is a general definition, and it does not argue for or against the model.

[Next stepIndustry work with Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=industry)

## Related terms

-   [Dental therapist](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-therapist)
-   [Scope of practice](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/scope-of-practice)
-   [Dental hygienist](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-hygienist)
-   [Workforce shortage](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/workforce-shortage)

## Sources

1.  [PMC, A Dental Student’s Perspective of Mid-level Providers in the Oral Healthcare Team](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8368849/)
2.  [PMC, Dental Therapists: A Solution to a Shortage of Dentists in Underserved Communities?](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5415248/)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

[Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)