Information from the Chapter Oral Health Advocate is unavailable at this time.
Chapter Activities It is one of the goals of the Maine Chapter to Improve oral health in the children of Maine. Measurable objectives include developing a working relationship with the Maine Department of Oral Health, leveraging funding from oral health grants against much bigger grants in the state, and getting oral health activities into pediatric offices.
To date, the Maine Chapter has completed the following activities related to oral health:
1.
Applied for and received a Healthy People 2010 grant.
2.
Leveraged Healthy People 2010 grant to larger Sadie and Harry Davis Foundation for $12 million in statewide activities.
3.
Started a pilot oral health risk assessment and fluoride varnish application training program in 3 pediatric offices and 1 Head Start center.
The Maine Chapter is currently working to start a statewide program with fluoride varnishes in primary care offices. In addition, it has increased coordination of the multiple statewide oral health programs to prevent redundancy of efforts through collaboration.
Conference Emphasizes Maine Dentist Shortage
Maine has just 1 dentist per 3400 residents. The US average is one per 1700. This can lead to practices that aren't accepting new patients or practices with months of wait times. Maine Dental Association members say approximately 20% of dentists will be ready for retirement within the next 5 years. As a result, 40 young people who just might be the future of dentistry in Maine were special guests at the annual Maine Dental Association convention. (6/22/09)
Doctors Get Training in Basic Dental Tasks
Maine has come up with a way to help deal with a shortage of dentists: Family doctors are being trained to pull teeth, lance abscesses, and apply fluoride. So far, about 40 family practice residents have gone through the program. The goal isn't to transform them into dentists, but simply to make them aware of oral health issues. (10/16/08)
