Dental Health Aide Program

The Alaska Dental Heath Aide Program (DHA) seeks to develop local capacity to address the oral health needs of rural residents, especially children, who suffer from cavities at two times the national rate.

The lack of year-round dental care in the Y-K Delta villages, plus the expense and hardships of rural travel, makes it tough for villagers to obtain dental check-ups on a regular basis. But once in place, Dental Health Aides (DHAs), who will be village- based, will be able to provide basic oral health services, disease prevention education, and continuity of care never before possible in rural Alaska.

The concept of developing needed dental services in rural Alaska adapts and expands on the existing Community Health Aide (CHA) Program. Federal statute authorizes Tribal health organizations to operate the CHA Program to provide primary health care throughout Alaska. Through 35 years of experience, the CHA program has developed administrative controls to ensure quality of care.

Each provider in the program must meet the qualifications as outlined in the Federal Community Health Aide Program Standards and Procedures. A 12-member board, authorized by the Federal Government, administers the program.

CHAs and their dental counterparts must meet training requirements, undergo a protracted preceptor ship, and have their skills evaluated by direct observation. Skill evaluation is completed every two years, and, in addition to continuing education is required for recertification. The CHA and DHA have well defined individualized scopes of practice.

Today there are more than 500 CHAs in Alaska, working in about 180 rural villages, providing high quality, culturally sensitive health care to fellow village residents. It is the intention of the Alaska DHA Program to fully establish a statewide program of Dental Health Aides within the existing Tribal health care system.

The Dental Health Aide Program is operated in partnership with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC).

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Dental Health Aide Program

Click here for more information about Alaska's Dental Health Aide Program

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