Impressions
May the( Work) Force Be with You!
by Dr. Stephen T. Radack III, Editor
As a long-time reader of this publication, you know that we will occasionally do an issue focused on a dedicated theme. Rarely do we repeat a theme, especially just one year later, but in this case, workforce continues to be one of PDA’ s top priorities. And in this issue when we refer to workforce, we are speaking not only about dental auxiliary and staff, but to dentists as well and the challenges posed by distribution of workforce across the commonwealth.
What we know about this issue is that unfortunately there is no short-term fix. As you will learn from our president-elect, Dr. Jim Mancini, who has practiced in a rural area for years, engaging high school guidance counselors is one approach PDA has been taking the last couple years. It is amazing to me that most counselors do not even offer dentistry or the allied professions as career paths for their students. Jim and his PDA team are doing their best to change that.
The ADA is also placing a top priority on the issue through its Council on Dental Practice. They are seeking Workforce Ambassadors who will work to identify“ one SMART-specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound-goal related to workforce issues to address them in their state.”
According to the current chair of the council, Dr. Shane Ricci,“ the ADA Workforce Ambassador program is new, and its goals are to connect member dentists and state and local society leaders interested in making a collective impact on this important topic, advancing creative solutions and sharing knowledge.”
Here in Pennsylvania, we hear from the deans of the Penn, Pitt and Temple dental schools and what they are doing to help alleviate the workforce shortage. At my alma mater, Pitt, they have already started a unique training program for dental assistants where most of the training can be done online rather than in the classroom on Pitt’ s campus. The next step in the new models is to open a Regional Training Center in conjunction with Titusville Hospital in Crawford County. At that facility they will train dental hygienists, dental assistants and have a general practice residency. This new facility will also provide routine dental care.
As you may have seen from recent press coverage, Temple is opening a rural dentistry track dental clinic in Tamaqua( Schuylkill County). This facility will allow up to 20 students to treat patients in this rural area. The focus of the clinic will be to treat Medicaid patients. One of the incentives for Temple students to serve at the clinic will be free housing, which has already been secured by the school. This alone could save each student up to $ 15,000 in expenses.
I do not consider Erie a rural area, but at this time we are also experiencing a lack of new dentists coming here. Every year more senior dentists are closing their offices rather than turning them over to a new colleague. This has created a serious lack of available dental appointments for patients looking for a new dental home. It is the same for specialists. Until just recently we had only one endodontist, down from three before the pandemic! The other specialties aren’ t doing much better. An oral surgeon colleague has been looking for another associate to join the practice for years with no luck.
As we are all aware, staffing is also a challenge and has been since the pandemic. Most vacancies are being filled from the staffs of retiring dentists or even active dentists who jump ship for better hours and pay. At my old office, one of the new assistants is someone who had left the profession for many years and just returned.
You and your dental team could make a huge difference during your interactions with students, teachers, guidance counselors, parents and legislators. Don’ t hesitate to share what dentistry, dental hygiene and dental assisting means to you. Not many professions can have such an immediate impact on a person’ s life. Relieving pain, improving confidence by giving back a smile or making a child’ s first dental appointment a pleasant one to start their dental journey. This is what we do!
As PDA leaders, dental school deans and legislators look to solve this problem, it will take more creative initiatives to produce long-term solutions. Thinking outside the normal education bubbles will be needed. Even with these new models, is there a way to convince these new colleagues to stay in these rural, underserved areas? It may be up to the legislature to provide more student loan forgiveness as an incentive to stay. Once a new practitioner is actively practicing for a few years they may decide that location is perfect for them.
PDA, may the workforce be with you!— STR3
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2025 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 5