Argall TV Report: Expanding Dental Education, Removing Bureaucratic Barriers to Reduce Dental Workforce Shortages

HARRISBURG - The May edition of the local TV program hosted by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) reviews a recent Senate Majority Policy Committee public hearing held in Luzerne County on efforts to reverse severe workforce shortages in dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants.

The hearing featured dental professionals, educators, insurance companies and other advocates who testified how dental workforce shortages harm people's health and shared successful strategies to encourage more people to pursue these careers.

"Almost one third of Pennsylvanians do not receive regular dental care, which increases rates of opioid abuse, contributes to heart disease and overwhelms emergency rooms with preventable dental issues," Argall said. "At the same time, more than 22% of Pennsylvania dentists are aged 65 and older, and more than 18% of our dental hygienists are aged 60 and older. If we do not act this problem will soon get much, much worse."

Argall and other community leaders, including state Rep. Jamie Barton (R-124) and Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09), recently championed the creation of Temple University's first small-town dental education center and clinic in downtown Tamaqua, a key step toward expanding rural Pennsylvania's dental workforce. The 24-chair education center and clinic will host 10 third-year and 10 fourth-year dental students for their final two years of training and provide comprehensive care to underserved patients.

"The information we gathered at this hearing will significantly help our efforts, in Tamaqua and across the state, to encourage more dental professionals to practice in our communities," Argall said.

This edition of the Argall Report will air on:

• Blue Ridge Communications (Channel 13) every Monday at 10 a.m. and every Wednesday at 10:30 p.m.
• Service Electric Cablevision: Hazleton, Mahanoy City; Shenandoah - on Hazleton's WYLN TV 35 Channel 507 and MetroCast Communications Channel 10. Please check local listings for airtimes.
• Berks Community Television (Comcast - Channel 15 and Service Electric - Channel 19). Please check local listings for airtimes.

All editions of the Argall Report can also be viewed on Argall's website.