Elected officials and a contingent from Temple University viewed the progress of recently started construction of a dental education clinic and student housing in Tamaqua.

Temple is creating the state’s first rural dental education clinic at the former Rite Aid at 205 Center St. in Tamaqua. Housing for the students is being created at the former Scheid’s Department Store, 24 W. Broad St., a long-vacant building that last housed Tire Pros.

State Sen. David Argall and state Rep. Jamie Barton joined Dr. Amid Ismail from the Kornberg School of Dentistry at the construction sites.

Plans are to convert the former pharmacy into a 24-chair education center and clinic that is expected to open in the fall.

Ten third-year and 10 fourth-year dental students will receive their final two years of training in Tamaqua, where they will provide comprehensive care to underserved patients.

The university collaborated with the nonprofit Tamaqua Area Community Partnership on plans for its first ever rural dental school.

Talks of the need for dentists in the area have been ongoing. In June, Argall chaired a public hearing about the matter at the Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Morgan site in Tamaqua. And earlier this month, he chaired another similar hearing near Pittston.

“Almost one-third of Pennsylvanians do not receive regular dental care, which increases rates of opioid abuse, contributes to heart disease and overwhelms emergency rooms with preventable dental issues,” Argall said. “At the same time, more than 22% of Pennsylvania dentists are aged 65 and older, and more than 18% of our dental hygienists are aged 60 and older.

“If we do not act, this problem will soon get much, much worse.”

The hearing brought dental professionals, educators, insurance company representatives 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.