The Maurice L. Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University is expanding dental care services with two new clinics — one in Philadelphia’s Spring Garden neighborhood and another in rural Tamaqua, Pennsylvania.
The Tamaqua site will pilot a rural dentistry track designed to address limited access to affordable dental care in small communities. The program will host about 20 third- and fourth-year dental students, who will live full-time in Tamaqua and integrate into the local community.
Temple partnered with the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership (TACP), a nonprofit focused on local development, to launch the project. TACP will lease Temple a former pharmacy site for renovation into the new clinic, said Micah Gursky, the organization’s director.
“Right now, there are very few, if any, opportunities for a dentist to train in a rural area,” Gursky said. “This will be a unique program and a chance to showcase what a small town can offer.”
Dean Amid Ismail said the Tamaqua initiative aligns with Temple’s strategic plan, Forward with Purpose, which emphasizes partnerships across Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. The rural track will mirror programs at Temple’s Health Sciences Center but provide students with immersive, community-based training.
The Tamaqua clinic is expected to open in fall 2026. The university is seeking a contractor to renovate the property and plans to begin training participating students later this year.
In Philadelphia, the school will relocate its Faculty Dental Clinic to Spring Garden. The new site will provide dental services to staff, students and community members, while the former Broad Street location will be repurposed for expanded clinical training for upper-level students.
Cynthia Jetter, director of the Faculty Dental Clinic, said the Spring Garden facility will offer more space and upgraded technology.
“The major advantage is that it gives faculty a larger space and greater access to advanced technology,” Jetter said.
She added that the clinic aims to become an integral part of the growing Spring Garden community and serve as a specialized resource for local dentists.
The faculty clinic is staffed by practicing dental professors who teach four days a week and treat patients one day weekly. Jetter said maintaining an active practice benefits both instructors and students.
“Dentists who practice are better instructors,” she said. “It allows faculty to maintain a larger patient base while staying engaged in clinical work.”
Temple has also expanded community outreach in recent years. In 2023, Kornberg partnered with William D. Kelley Elementary School in North Philadelphia to open a pediatric clinic serving K-8 students, regardless of insurance status.
Ismail said the school is well-positioned to treat Medicaid patients, citing its experience navigating reimbursement systems that many private dentists find financially challenging.
“There is high demand for dental care among low-income patients and those covered by Medical Assistance,” Ismail said. “Most private practices struggle with low reimbursement rates and administrative burdens. Temple Dental offers a model built on extensive Medicaid expertise.”
University leaders say the new clinics reflect a broader effort to expand access to dental care while strengthening hands-on training for future dentists.