Temple University Details First-Ever Rural Dental Education Center and Clinic in Tamaqua

TAMAQUA - According to Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) and Rep. Jamie Barton (R-124), a major announcement at this week's PA Oral Health Summit confirmed that Temple University's Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, along with the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, is developing its first-ever rural dental education center and clinic in Tamaqua, marking a historic step toward addressing Pennsylvania's growing shortage of dental professionals - especially in rural areas.

Once approved by the Temple University Board of Trustees, the proposed 24-chair education and clinic center will be located at the site of a former Rite Aid in downtown Tamaqua. The facility will host 20 dental students who will complete their final two years of training in Tamaqua, providing critical dental services for residents of Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne counties. The Kornberg School of Dentistry is also in discussion with Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) to open a dental hygiene program that will train six to 10 students.

Argall, who chaired a public hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee earlier this year on the severe dental care shortages across Pennsylvania, and Barton praised this announcement as a major step forward for rural health care and the people of northeast Pennsylvania.

"When we held a Senate hearing in Tamaqua, we heard heartbreaking testimony about families driving hours just to find basic dental care," said Argall. "We learned that if your dentist retires, it can take months to find a new one. This joint effort between Temple University, LCCC and local and state partners will not only help fill that gap - it will create new jobs, expand health care access and build a lasting foundation for rural health education in Pennsylvania."

"Pennsylvania is in desperate need of dentists and dental hygienists in our rural counties," Barton said. "Temple University's new rural dental school coming to Tamaqua addresses our rural dentist shortage and opens up general dental care in downtown Tamaqua for residents of Schuylkill and surrounding counties."

Dr. Amid Ismail, dean of the Kornberg School of Dentistry, said the project is the culmination of years of planning to bring high-quality dental education and care to the communities that need it most. The new education center and clinic will test a new model of addressing access to dental care in rural Pennsylvania where students live and study in a rural community for two years. The clinic will provide comprehensive care including orthodontics and implant-supported restorations. It will also create at least 20 new jobs.

The new dental education center and clinic, once approved, will be made possible through investment from Temple University, state and federal grants, private donations and Tamaqua Borough's participation in Pennsylvania's City Revitalization and Improvement Zone program, which allows local and state tax revenue generated within the zone to be reinvested in local redevelopment projects.

U.S. Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09) was also recognized for his leadership in making this project a reality.

Renovations for the education center and student housing are expected to begin this year, with the center projected to open in September 2026.

CONTACTS:
Seth Hubler (Argall)
Jake Gillespie (Barton)