Inside Dentistry
…At Apple Tree Dental in Minnesota, dental therapy has been part of the care model for more than a decade—providing evidence for professionals seeking data, not anecdotes.
Heather Luebben, one of Minnesota’s first dental therapists, works within pediatric specialty and special care teams serving children and adults with complex needs. “Dental therapists allow us to triage care based on complexity,” Luebben says. “Dentists can focus on patients who truly need specialist care, while we deliver high-quality preventive and restorative services sooner and in more accessible settings.”
In 2024 alone, Apple Tree Dental delivered $46.5 million in dental care, with $9 million provided by dental therapists across fixed clinics and more than 150 community sites. Research conducted in partnership with the Center for Health Workforce Studies shows increased dentist productivity, high patient and provider satisfaction, more dental needs met in fewer visits, and timelier access to care.
For clinics navigating workforce shortages, these outcomes matter.