The federal government through Indigenous Services Canada is providing $2.1 million dollars to establish a new dental therapy degree program. The partnership is between the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority, the University of Saskatchewan, Sask Polytechnic and Northlands College.

The partnership, spearheaded by the U of S will launch a Bachelor of Science in dental therapy starting in the fall of 2023. The program will start accepting students in March 2023 through the USask website.

This will create Canada’s first and only dental degree program.

Students will have the choice of studying at the Northland College Campus in La Ronge, in Prince Albert at the USask campus or in Regina at the Sask Polytech campus.

2011 was the last time dental therapists in Canada were trained. Funding was then pulled from the program which was based out of National School of Dental Therapy in Prince Albert.

Dr. Doug Brothwell, Dean of the USask College of Dentistry says it has been over four years since the NITHA approached the college requesting that the two work together to solve the problem of access to dental care in their 34 member First Nations.