Objectives: To review the development of dental therapy in Canada.
Methods: Historical review.
Results: Over its 35-year history in Canada, this model of service delivery experienced a period of great success, but has since degraded, not fulfilling its potential.
Conclusions: To ensure the success of the paediatric oral health therapist, US policy leaders will need to mitigate the challenges that degraded the viability of this form of service provision in Canada.