College of Dental Medicine students provide free care to the community

Students provided free care to more than 100 patients in the Oral Health Center
Students provided free care to more than 100 patients in the Oral Health Center

On Friday, November 1, University of New England College of Dental Medicine students and support staff partnered with the Maine Dental Association for Dentists Who Care for ME, a day of free dental care for those without insurance and who can not afford treatment.

“Part of UNE’s mission is to better the health of people in northern New England,” explained Fields Farrior, D.M.D., M.S., associate dean of clinical education and patient care. “Giving back is foundational to that mission.”

UNE dental students volunteered their time, providing teeth cleanings, fillings and extractions, under the supervision of faculty members.

Over the course of the day, 107 patients were served with the total care valued at $18, 864. The event was featured in reports on NEWSCENTER Maine and WGME.

"It's a day to give back to the community,” Meghan McAlary (Dental Medicine, ’22) told WGME. “It's just a wonderful day where we can take care of anyone who walks through."

Dentists Who Care for ME has helped more than 4,000 patients and provided services valued at over $1.3 million since its inception.

“It's a humbling experience for all the student providers,” says Kimberly Soulard, C.D.A., UNE College of Dental Medicine’s assistant director of Clinical Affairs. “When they give free treatment to those in need and then see how grateful the patients are, it’s a great experience for them.”

Students Zach Wullbrandt and Anthony Burgois were featured in a report on NEWSCENTER Maine
Students Zach Wullbrandt and Anthony Burgois were featured in a report on NEWSCENTER Maine
Student Meghan McAlary being interviewed by WGME
Student Meghan McAlary being interviewed by WGME

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.