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PORTLAND, Maine

Dental Care for ME kicks off Yes on 2! campaign

Dental Care for ME - a statewide coalition of patients, dentists, health care providers, and business organizations - gathered at the University of New England's Portland Campus on Oct. 6, 2010 to announce their support for the Question 2 dental bond on the fall ballot.

Question 2 asks voters to consider investing $5 million to help build dental clinics throughout Maine.

Local dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Doss, began the press conference stating, "The crisis in dental care has been looming for nearly 20 years, and it is just getting worse. Maine already falls woefully behind the rest of the country in our dentist to patient ratio, and with nearly 40 percent of Maine dentists likely to retire over the next 10 years the problem is just going to get worse. We need more dentists, low-barrier access for patients, and real long-term solutions. A yes vote on Question 2 will help Maine begin to address the terrible crisis."

The Maine Legislature in April 2010 approved a $5 million bond package that goes to voters Nov. 2nd for the purpose of increasing access to dental care in Maine.

Of that $5 million, $3.5 million is to be used for a community-based teaching dental clinic affiliated with or operated by a college of dental medicine to be matched by $3.5 million in other funds; and $1.5 million is to be used to create or upgrade community-based health and dental care clinics across the state to increase their capacity as teaching and dental clinics.

The Rev. Bob Carlson, president of Penobscot Community Health Care, told the gathering, "We need to help Mainers understand that health care does not end at the shoulders. At Penobscot Community Health Care and the many FQHC's and other clinics in Maine, we are committed to finding ways to serve Mainers' oral and mental health needs."

Godfrey Wood, president of the Portland Regional Chamber said, "The Portland Regional Chamber overwhelming endorsed this bond, not only because of the obvious economic benefits from construction activity and job creation, but because our members all recognize the importance of providing good health care, including oral health care, to employees, customers and citizens."

If voters approve the referendum, UNE will be in a strong position to compete for the $3.5 million to be used for a college of dental medicine clinic.

Kneka Smith, UNE associate dean of planning, concluded: "We have a public health challenge that demands public - private partnerships to forge lasting solutions.  The passage of this bond will help open clinics in the underserved and unserved corners of Maine and to train dentists to help fill the enormous gap we have in delivering good oral health services.  At UNE, we are committed to being a part of this solution."

The Legislature's overwhelming approval of the dental access bond was acknowledgement of the state's impending oral health care crisis and the need to begin to address the state's dental medicine education needs.

A yes vote on Question 2 is a vote for:

  • Dental clinics to serve all Maine citizens throughout Maine.
  • 60,000 new low cost dental visits per year.  
  • A permanent Maine-based dental school where Maine students will learn.

Major endorsers include:

  • Maine Dental Association
  • Maine Dental Access Coalition
  • Maine Medical Association
  • Maine Osteopathic Association
  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine
  • Greater Portland Dental Society
  • Maine Hospital Association
  • Maine Dental Hygienists' Association
  • Maine Primary Care Association
  • Maine Chamber of Commerce
  • Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • MaineHealth
  • Associated General Contractors
  • HealthReach Community Health Centers
  • Homeless Voices for Justice
  • Community Dental
  • Patterson Dental
  • Catholic Diocese
  • Preble Street
  • Maine Equal Justice
  • Maine Chapter of AARP
  • University of New England
  • UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • University Health Care
  • University of New England Dental Hygiene Program
  • Penobscot Community Health Care
  • DFD Russell Medical Center
  • Islands Community Medical Services
  • Katahdin Valley Health Center
  • Sacopee Valley Health Center
  • Regional Medical Center at Lubec
  • Fish River Rural Health
  • Sebasticook Family Doctors
  • Maine Migrant Health Program
  • Henry Schein Dental
  • Health Access Network
  • Eliot Cutler
  • Paul LePage
  • Libby Mitchell 

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.