More dental professionals are needed to improve access to care for Pennsylvanians

Pennsylvania is currently grappling with a significant and growing dental crisis, especially in its more rural areas. A shortage of dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants across the state is disrupting access to the critical dental care many residents need to be their healthiest.

According to HRSA Data Warehouse, Pa. has 162 dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), a federal designation used to determine need in a specific location by comparing the number of health professionals relative to the population being served. With more than 2.2 million people impacted, 93 of these designations — over 54% — are in rural communities where fewer dentists choose to practice. A PA Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) report found that only 17.9% of dentists provided direct patient care in rural Pa. counties in 2023. For the many Pennsylvanians living in an HPSA, this means that they are likely waiting longer or traveling farther to get care.

That’s not encouraging news, considering that oral health can greatly affect overall health. Thanks to years of research, we’re gaining a better understanding of the crucial role dental wellness can play in improving well-being. Studies have shown that many systemic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, can be detected through oral health conditions. And harmful bacteria from certain oral diseases, like gum disease, can travel throughout the body and weaken its immune response.

What’s more, untreated dental disease can result in pain and infections that may lead to issues in other areas of a person’s life, including eating, speaking, education, and employment. It can cause missed time from work and school, as well as costly emergency room visits that are better suited for treatment in a dental setting. According to a CareQuest Institute for Oral Health report, 3% of adults in Pa. visited a hospital emergency department for dental care in 2024, costing as much as $584 million.

That’s where having better access to care can make all the difference. Routine preventive visits help catch cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer early; remove harmful plaque and tartar; and teach good hygiene habits that prevent serious future problems. But when there aren’t enough dental professionals to provide these services, the oral and overall health of Pennsylvanians — especially those in shortage areas — is put at risk.

This urgent reality was the focus of a recent Pa. Senate Majority Policy Committee hearing that I participated in, where dental professionals and advocates came together to share challenges and possible solutions. I spoke about a few things United Concordia Dental has been doing in the state — for dentists and in the community — to help bridge the gap to care:

• For our dentists: United Concordia strengthens relationships with its Medicaid and Medicare providers through various value-based partnerships. Additionally, we’ve also worked to streamline our credentialing process — mandatory for ensuring a high standard of care and regulatory compliance — for dentists interested in joining our networks to help minimize long wait times and administrative burdens.

• For our communities: We emphasize the importance of oral and overall health through a commitment to strengthen the communities we serve in Pa. and across the country in various ways. One key initiative helping us do this locally is our annual Healthy Smiles

for Miles mobile dental unit tour serving hundreds of individuals enrolled in Medicaid and Pa. Children’s Health Insurance Program. Additionally, we provide scholarships to dental and dental hygiene students across the state — and nationally. We also sponsor organizations that offer free dental programs and are exploring innovative ways to increase access to care, like our salivary testing pilot for underserved Pennsylvanians.

At United Concordia, we’ll continue our efforts to be a part of the solution, but we also believe the Pennsylvania legislature can help address these challenges. By restoring the Medicaid benefit to its 2011 level, the legislature would allow for adult coverage beyond routine dental care. Doing so has the potential to significantly decrease overall health care costs for Medicaid members by giving them greater access to care. Additionally, advocating for and funding a new dental school in the state, particularly in central Pa., would significantly fortify our future dental workforce. And finally, expanding the scope of practice for dental hygienists and substantially funding loan repayment programs for dentists practicing in shortage areas would also yield significant benefits.

Addressing these dental shortages requires a multi-faceted approach and sustained commitment from all of us — policymakers, businesses, health care organizations, and schools alike. Conversations like those at the hearing reinforce our shared responsibility and the importance of taking action to support the oral health workforce today so that it can meet the needs of all Pennsylvanians tomorrow.