JENKINS TWP. – Efforts to expand access to dental care and address severe workforce shortages of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants was the focus of a public hearing of the PA Senate Majority Policy Committee. The hearing featured dental professionals, educators, insurance companies, and other advocates who gave their perspectives on how dental workforce shortages harm public health and shared successful strategies that encouraged more people to pursue these careers. Almost one third of Pennsylvanians do not receive regular dental care. At the same time, more than 22% of PA dentists are age 65 and older, and more than 18% of PA dental hygienists are aged 60 and older. Dr. James Mancini, President-elect of the PA Dental Association, noted a study that found PA was ranked first in the nation for dentists moving out of the state from 2014-24. He pointed to complicated insurance requirements as a factor in dentists moving to practice in other states. Other experts cited the need for more dental hygiene education programs, more dental hygienists, a need for PA to join a dentist and dental hygienist interstate licensure compact, and create new workforce development pipelines in both higher education and high school career and technical programs.
