Senate Hearing April 13 on Dental Workforce Shortages

JENKINS TOWNSHIP - The public health impact of dental care shortages and strategies to grow the dental care workforce will be examined at a Senate Majority Policy Committee public hearing Monday, April 13, at 2 p.m. at Benco Dental, 295 Centerpoint Blvd., Jenkins Township.

Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), the chair of the committee, called the hearing to learn from dental professionals, educators and advocates about the challenges patients face in accessing care and initiatives that have successfully encouraged more dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants.

"I recently learned about the heartbreaking story of 12-year-old Deamonte Driver, a Maryland boy who died after an untreated tooth infection spread to his brain," said Argall. "Stories like this are devastating - and they are preventable. This public hearing will help guide our work to expand access to dental care and protect Pennsylvanians from unnecessary pain and suffering."

Argall, Rep. Jamie Barton (R-124) and other local leaders recently championed the creation of Temple University's first rural dental education center and clinic in downtown Tamaqua, a key step towards 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 hearing will be livestreamed at Policy.PASenateGOP.com.

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