UNE’s dental college receives $25K from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine to provide dental care in Washington County

The University of New England’s College of Dental Medicine recently received a one-year grant of $25,000 from Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Maine  for the purpose of providing oral health education and preventative oral health services to 250 children and 100 parents in the underserved, rural community of Washington County.

According to Jon Ryder, D.D.S., M.S., dean of the College of Dental Medicine, 25 percent of low-income children account for 80 percent of dental disease. In fact, children living in poverty are twice as likely to have untreated decay, and only 38 percent of Medicaid eligible children receive any dental services at all. Barriers that impact low income families’ ability to utilize dental services in rural and underserved areas include lack of access to dental care, inadequate parental knowledge of oral health and its importance, and lack of preventative programs.

With funding from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine, UNE’s College of Dental Medicine will address this disparity in Washington County by working with non-profit community based organizations, Federally Qualified Health Centers, school districts, Head Start agencies, and a Maine migrant school program to provide oral health education and preventative oral health care services through school-based programs.

The grant was one of three recently given by RMHC of Maine to organizations seeking to improve children’s oral health. A total of more than $69,000 was awarded to the grant recipients.

“We are impressed by UNE’s commitment to improving the oral health of Maine children,” said Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine Executive Director Robin Chibroski. “The Washington County program will benefit the children who receive dental services, while providing UNE dental students with valuable experience in communities where more dentists are needed.” 

According to Ryder, the use of portable dental systems is one effective mechanism to bring oral health care treatments to those who are not able to acquire dental services on their own. Bringing portable equipment into schools will give children immediate access to  much needed diagnostic and preventative services that otherwise would not be available.

This project does more than benefit the families of Washington County with immediate dental care.  It also potentially aids all of Maine’s rural and underserved communities by increasing the likelihood that UNE’s dental students will practice in these communities after they graduate. Students will gain valuable experiences in community-based oral health education, service learning and clinical skills, thereby furthering the College of Dental Medicine’s effort to educate mission-driven students who will return to Maine to practice their field in communities that have unmet oral health needs. According to Ryder, research shows that graduates are more likely to work in rural and/or underserved areas if they engage in community-based rotations during their education and are provided adequate preparation for practicing in these settings.

 “The Ronald McDonald House Charities Oral Health Project will be an excellent and early initiative in the development of UNE’s clinical rotations that will provide a critical infrastructure for this dental education model while also providing substantial benefits for Maine children and families,” said Ryder.

UNE’s College of Dental Medicine hopes to expand this project in the future to Hancock and Franklin Counties.

To learn more about the College of Dental Medicine, visit www.une.edu/dentalmedicine

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions