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PORTLAND, Maine

UNE Motivates Riverton Elementary Students to Brush Up on Dental Care

University of New England students in the College of Dental Medicine visited students of Riverton Elementary School on February 26, 2014 as part of National Children's Dental Health Month.

Riverton Elementary students in the first, second and third grades learned about healthy teeth and snacks by participating in the national "Lessons in a Lunchbox" program. UNE students brought each child a lunch box containing a carrot-shaped case with a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss.

"I want to make it really fun so that they think forward to interacting with dentists and dental providers," said UNE dental student Rachael Creisher, of South Portland.

"This year, "Lessons in a Lunchbox" is hoping to give 20,000 lunch boxes to students across the nation," said UNE associate clinical professor Ron Chenette.

UNE opened the first dental school in northern New England in the fall of 2013. The inaugural class of 64 includes 24 students from Maine, representing 100 counties and more than 20 towns. There are also five students from New Hampshire, four from Vermont and other students representing 16 states in addition to Canada.

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.