New Program Expands to Provide Dental Care for Uninsured Children.
LEWISTON, Maine — A new initiative is helping children in Maine access vital dental care, regardless of their insurance status. The organization Tooth Protectors is now offering affordable onsite dental services through a partnership with the state, expanding their reach into schools across Maine. Since last spring, dental hygienists from Tooth Protectors have been visiting schools to set up pop-up clinics as part of a state-supported school oral health program.
Amanda Ray-Noonan, a representative from Tooth Protectors, explained the collaborative effort: “The state provides us with the necessary supplies, and we donate our services.” These services include dental screenings, fluoride treatments to strengthen teeth, and lessons on maintaining oral health, all offered to students whether or not they have dental insurance.
Stacey Skidgell, a dental hygienist with the program, emphasized the program’s importance for working parents. “This program is especially beneficial for parents who can’t afford to take a day off work to bring their child to a dental appointment,” Skidgell said. “When we can show up at a school and treat fifty kids, it’s amazing because that’s fifty parents who didn’t have to go out of their way, and their child still received care.”
The dental hygienists will report back to the state with data on cavity counts, aiming to demonstrate the need for including cleanings in the school oral health program.
However, it’s important to note that the services provided are preventative. Dental hygienists can’t repair serious tooth issues, some of which can become life-threatening if untreated. Both Skidgell and Ray-Noonan have seen many families in Maine struggle to find a dentist, particularly one who accepts MaineCare. They highlighted the need for more dental hygienists to meet the growing demand.
In addition to their work in schools, Tooth Protectors also operates a mobile clinic that travels to local nursing homes, churches, and community centers, bringing dental care to those who might otherwise go without.
Ray-Noonan reflected on the organization’s mission: “We’re just a small practice trying to make a difference.”