BANGOR, Maine — At least 180,000 children in Maine do not have a regular dentist, according to a recent study by the University of Southern Maine (USM), highlighting gaps in access to oral health care statewide.
To help address the need, the University of Maine at Augusta’s Bangor campus hosted a free dental clinic, providing children with exams and preventive care. Organizers said the event aimed to serve families struggling with cost and limited provider availability.
Calvin Libby, a father of two, said inconsistent insurance coverage has made it difficult to secure a regular dentist for his children.
“Everything is very expensive, so we are still looking for the right place, the right dentist,” Libby said. He added that the free clinic provided comprehensive care and identified potential issues that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. “It’s risk free. You show up. They do everything. They take care of you front to back.”
The USM study found that only one in three children with dental insurance has a primary dentist. Susan Harvey, a faculty dentist at UMA Bangor who helps oversee the clinic, said increasing that number is critical.
“Primary dentists are kind of the captain of your dental team,” Harvey said. “They direct you if you need braces or orthodontics.”
Harvey said the clinic also helps young children become more comfortable in a dental setting. Exposure to dental staff and equipment can reduce anxiety during future visits.
“Seeing us in these glasses and the mask can sometimes be intimidating,” she said. “Getting kids used to what we look like and what it is like to go to a dentist makes a difference.”
The clinic also serves as hands-on training for students in UMA Bangor’s dental hygiene program. Emily Fiske, a dental hygiene student, said working with children provides valuable real-world experience.
“It’s really beneficial for us to have that experience because you never know what is going to happen when you’re working with kids,” Fiske said. “They are a little more unpredictable than adults.”
Although the clinic offered free services for one day, UMA Bangor provides low-cost dental care to the community throughout the year.