Dental Workers Leaving Resulting in Disparities and Longer Wait Times

According to a new report from the Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH), some Pennsylvania residents have wait times up to three years to receive dental treatment for tooth decay. The Access to Oral Health Workforce Report determined the average wait time for a new dental appointment in Pennsylvania is 2 months with an additional month wait to have a filling placed. Rural residents can face up to a two to three year wait for care.

According to Helen Hawkey, executive director at PCOH, "The wait times found via our secret shopper project are four times longer than similar reports compl...