Temple’s Tamaqua dental clinic and education center aims to close gap in rural dentistry

August 30, 2026 - 04:05

Brian Boyle is part of the first class of students training at Temple's Kornberg School of Dentistry satellite clinic in Tamaqua, and he already sees the problem clearly. "There's a hole in the system, and I want to be part of filling it," he said. Boyle, like many of his classmates, chose this rural rotation because he understands that people in small towns across Pennsylvania often wait months for a basic cleaning or a filling.

The new facility, which combines patient care with hands-on education, is designed to address a long-standing issue: rural communities have far fewer dentists per capita than urban areas. Many older practitioners are retiring, and younger dentists tend to stay in cities where salaries are higher and practices are easier to build. That leaves towns like Tamaqua with limited options, forcing residents to drive an hour or more for treatment.

The clinic aims to change that by training students in a rural setting from day one. They work alongside experienced faculty, treating local patients at reduced costs while learning the realities of small-town practice. The hope is that exposure to this kind of work will encourage graduates to set up their own offices in similar communities after they finish school.

For Boyle, the mission is personal. He grew up in a town not much bigger than Tamaqua and watched his own family struggle to find affordable dental care. "You can't have good overall health without good oral health," he said. "And right now, too many people in these areas just don't have access."

The clinic has already seen a steady stream of patients since opening its doors. Local officials say the demand is proof that the model works. If it succeeds, Temple may expand the program to other underserved regions across the state. For now, Boyle and his classmates are focused on learning their craft while making a difference one patient at a time.