According to a recent study, nearly 25 million Americans live in areas where there are not enough dentists to serve the needs of the population.
“In Pennsylvania, more than 1.5 million residents live in areas facing a dental shortage,” said Marnie Oakley, dean of Pitt’s School of Dental Medicine. “We know how hard it is for a dental office to lose a dental hygienist or dental assistant and acknowledge that hardship may be enough for a rural office to make the tough decision to close its doors, leaving many patients without a dental home.”