Temple University opened Pennsylvania’s first university-run rural dental clinic inside a former Tamaqua Rite Aid, tackling a shortage where 90% of rural counties lack adequate dental care.
- Expanding Access: The new Tamaqua facility provides vital oral health services to underserved rural populations in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties.
- Clinical Training: Dental students from Temple’s Kornberg School of Dentistry gain hands-on rural experience working alongside licensed professionals.
- High Demand: The site has averaged roughly 30 patient visits per day since starting operations ahead of its official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Temple University opened a dental clinic and teaching center in a former Rite Aid at 205 Center St. in downtown Tamaqua, according to reports. University officials noted this facility represents the first rural dental clinic operated by a university anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Roughly 100 people attended the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Tamaqua Dental Clinic and Education Center, according to the Pottsville Republican Herald. The facility officially began seeing patients on Sept. 2 and has maintained an average of about 30 patient visits per day.
Administrators expect the site to serve approximately 15,000 patients annually across Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties, the Times News reported. The center operates as a satellite branch of Temple’s Kornberg School of Dentistry based in Philadelphia.
The Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health reports that 90% of the commonwealth’s rural counties face a shortage of dentists, according to the Republican Herald. The project itself originated from discussions held at a 2023 oral health conference.
“When we first announced this idea, some of my critics on Facebook thought I had to be hallucinating,” State Sen. Dave Argall, R-Schuylkill, said, according to The Shenandoah Sentinel. Argall added that one of the first students he met at the clinic already intends to practice in Tamaqua following graduation.
Temple officials explained that student clinicians train at the Schuylkill County site under the direct supervision of Kornberg faculty and licensed dentists. Participating students reside in university-leased housing located within the borough, and local patients can access care through scheduled appointments or walk-in visits.
| Facility Metric | Reported Figure | Geographic Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Patient Average | About 30 patients/day | Tamaqua Clinic |
| Projected Annual Volume | 15,000 patients/year | Schuylkill, Carbon, & Luzerne counties |
| Grand Opening Attendance | About 100 people | 205 Center St. |
The LehighValleyLive Express Desk uses artificial intelligence tools to assist in producing content, which is reviewed and edited by staff.
- Grand Opening Coverage.
- Times News.
- The Shenandoah Sentinel.
