NPR.

This is the indicator from Planet Money. I'm Adrian Ma.

And I'm Waylon Wong. You know, for a lot of people, myself included, going to the dentist

comes with a bit of anxiety. But this was actually not the case for Carrie and Kuntelman, not even as a kid.

I kind of felt like it weirdly was like a safe space. I had to have extractions and a surgery and

I didn't have any like traumatic experiences is kind of the opposite and so that's

really when I figured out that I wanted to do something in the dental field.

This is amazing. I feel like Carrie Ann's unusual bravery qualifies her to like fight crime.

It's like a superpower.

Absolutely. And this is why when Carrie Ann got older, she thought about becoming a dental hygienist,

but then she learned about this job

called a dental therapist.

Now, you might think this is someone who like

holds your hand while you get a tooth extracted.

But a dental therapist is someone who is trained to do basic exams and cleanings, as well as some procedures

that are usually reserved for dentists, like filling cavities and pulling teeth.

Now in countries like New Zealand or the United Kingdom,

dental therapists have actually been practicing for years,

some even for decades.

But they're a much newer addition

to the dental workforce in the US.

There are only about 200 dental therapists

...