On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Senate Republicans heard testimony detailing a growing dental health crisis in the state’s rural communities, where a lack of access to care is leading to serious health consequences.
Dental professionals cited a combination of workforce shortages and insufficient insurance coverage as primary contributors to the issue. They shared real-life accounts, including a man attempting to use a deceased neighbor’s dentures and a teenager in need of full-mouth replacement.
Helen Hawkey, executive director of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health, highlighted the broader health risks of untreated dental issues, including connections to diabetes, heart disease, and pregnancy complications.
Children face missed school days and developmental issues, while seniors often struggle with nutrition due to dental limitations. Without preventative care, many patients end up in emergency rooms, increasing healthcare costs.
Sen. Dave Argall (R-Mahanoy), chairman of the Senate Majority Policy Committee, called the situation “eye-opening,” stating the conditions resembled a scene from “1825, not 2025.”
Proposed solutions included maintaining water fluoridation, expanding oral health education in schools, and reforming insurance systems to include oral health as essential care. Testimony emphasized Pennsylvania’s low dentist-to-patient ratios, particularly in rural areas, where there are only 3.7 dentists per 10,000 residents—nearly half the rate in urban areas.
Nearly 25% of the state’s dentists are over age 65, and experts say the workforce shortage could persist for at least 15 years. Although the number of dental school graduates is increasing, retaining professionals in rural areas remains difficult due to lower salaries and reimbursement rates.
Dr. Michael Verber of Verber Dental Group pointed to the need for more dental hygienists and Expanded Functions Dental Assistants (EFDAs), who perform essential restorative care. Dr. Joan Gluch of the University of Pennsylvania called for better high school preparation for dental careers, and Dr. Karen Rainey of Luzerne County Community College advocated for more local training pipelines.
Temple University’s School of Dentistry is launching a rural program in Tamaqua to address the issue. Dean Amid Ismail stressed that reforming Medicaid and reducing bureaucracy is critical to improving access.
Testimony concluded with calls for systemic reform and legislative action to improve rural dental care across Pennsylvania.
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