On Saturday, March 28, 2026 our UMA Dental Hygiene Program was out and about over the weekend volunteering for the Winter hosted at University of Maine’s Field House in Orono Maine!

We were a large group of volunteers- including the University of New England Dental students, UMA Dental Hygiene students, UMA Dental Hygiene alumni, Special Olympics Clinical Director Lorraine Klug, IPDH, volunteer dentists, UMA and UNE faculty all joined in to provide oral health screenings, fabricate sports guards, and provide oral health education for the athletes in attendance.

This hands-on experience reflects Ā鶹APP commitment to working alongside communities and meeting people where they are. For students, moments like this are where learning comes to life, building confidence, strengthening skills and preparing them to serve with compassion and connection in the communities they call home.

At UMA, learning does not stop at the classroom door. It travels into schools, community events, and neighborhoods across Maine.

Ā鶹APP Dental Club is a student-led example of what that looks like in action.

Throughout the year, club members volunteer at local outreach events, connect with families about oral health, and represent Ā鶹APP dental programs in the community. Whether they are sharing preventive care tips with children, supporting local organizations, or collaborating with dental professionals, students are building skills that matter while making a difference that is felt.

For many members, the club is where confidence grows. It is where classroom concepts become real conversations. It is where future dental professionals begin to see themselves as leaders and educators, not just students.

Their work reflects what defines UMA: education that meets students where they are and prepares them to serve where they are needed most. Through hands-on service, Dental Club members strengthen their clinical knowledge, communication skills, and commitment to community health, all while reinforcing the importance of accessible, preventive care across Maine.

This kind of engagement embodies Ā鶹APP mission to transform lives through high-quality education, student support, and civic engagement. It also reflects Ā鶹APP belief that progress happens when we work together, building partnerships that make education more connected, relevant, and valuable.

In every photo, there is more than a moment. There is preparation for a career, connection to a community, and the steady growth of students who are already making an impact.

Forty children received free preventive dental care at Ā鶹APP Bangor Dental Hygiene Clinic during this yearā€™s Give Kids a SmileĀ® Day, a program that continues to make a meaningful difference for Maine families. Hosted by Ā鶹APP Dental Hygiene program, the one-day clinic connected children ages 5 to 19 who do not have a regular dentist with cleanings, exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments and sealants. Each child was also seen by a dentist, ensuring comprehensive care in a supportive setting designed just for them.

For many families, the clinic offered more than an appointment. It provided reassurance, answers to questions and practical guidance to support healthy habits at home.Under the supervision of licensed professionals, dental hygiene students provided care while gaining hands-on clinical experience that prepares them to service communities across Maine.

Under the supervision of licensed professionals, dental hygiene students delivered care while gaining hands-on clinical experience that prepares them to meet Maineā€™s growing oral health workforce needs. The event reflects Ā鶹APP commitment to accessible, community-centered education that meets real needs across the state.

By the end of the day, students had strengthened their clinical skills, families left with helpful  guidance, and 40 young Mainers went home with healthier smiles. Events like Give Kids a SmileĀ® Day highlight the powerful role UMA students play in supporting the health of communities across the state.

See our video from Give Kids a SmileĀ® Day.

The one-day clinic is part of a national initiative led by the American Dental Association and responds to a documented access gap in childrenā€™s oral health care. In Maine, many families face barriers to routine dental visits, particularly those covered by public insurance.

During the clinic, students in Ā鶹APP Dental Hygiene program will provide cleanings, exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, and oral health education under the supervision of licensed professionals. The event combines hands-on clinical training with direct community impact, helping prepare students to meet ongoing oral health and workforce needs across Maine.

The clinic will be open from 8 to 5 p.m. at the UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic, located at 201 Texas Ave. on the Bangor campus.

Appointments are required.

For more information or to schedule, contact Valerie Clotts, administrative specialist, at 207-262-7872 or umadental@maine.edu

The Ā鶹APP Dental Health Programs have been selected for the fourth consecutive year to participate in the Maine Veteransā€™ Dental Network, supporting free dental care for qualifying veterans across the state.

Funded for 2026 through Northeast Delta Dental, the Maine Veteransā€™ Dental Network includes 23 participating clinic sites statewide. UMA received $500 in grant funding in January 2026, with services provided at both the UMA-Bangor Dental Clinic and the UMA Lewiston Center Dental Clinic.

Through this support, UMA dental clinics serve an average of 50 veterans each year, offering services such as cleanings, X-rays and preventive care. The program also provides valuable hands-on clinical experience for UMA dental health students while meeting a critical community need.

ā€œCreating access to care while educating future professionals is central to our work,ā€ said UMA Dental Health Programs Coordinator and Dental Hygiene Program Director Professor Nancy Foster. ā€œThrough partnerships with organizations like Northeast Delta Dental and the Maine Veteransā€™ Dental Network, we are able to open our clinics to veterans and meet real community needs while preparing students to deliver high-quality, compassionate care. It is a powerful example of learning and service coming together.ā€

Veterans interested in receiving dental services through UMA must first apply through the Maine Veteransā€™ Dental Network. Once approved, they may contact a UMA dental clinic to schedule care.

How to access services

Veterans should complete the short application through the .

After approval, veterans may contact:

Phone: 207-262-7872
Email: umadental@maine.edu

UMA’s Dental Hygiene Clinic has spring appointments available for children and adults.

UMA Dental offers low-cost comprehensive Dental Hygiene Care. All services are under the supervision of licensed dental faculty.

For more information and to schedule an appointment with the UMA Bangor Campus Dental Clinic, call 207-262-7872 or email umadental@maine.edu. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

UMA has received a $250,000 gift from Northeast Delta Dental to launch the Northeast Delta Dental Workforce Development Fund for Dental Hygienists, a new initiative to reduce financial barriers for students and strengthen Maineā€™s dental hygiene workforce at a time of critical shortage.

The fund will provide scholarships, licensure fee support and emergency microgrants to students in Ā鶹APP Bangor-based dental hygiene program, Maineā€™s only public program and a vital pipeline for the stateā€™s oral health workforce. By easing financial barriers, the initiative aims to ensure more students graduate and begin serving communities that urgently need oral health professionals.

ā€œWe are deeply grateful to Northeast Delta Dental for this generous investment in our students,ā€ said UMA President Jenifer Cushman. ā€œThis fund will ease the financial pressures our dental hygiene students face, allowing them to stay on track, graduate and serve the communities that count on them for care. Itā€™s a powerful example of how partnerships can strengthen Maineā€™s health care workforce.ā€

The newly established fund will support students in three primary ways:

• Retention Scholarships: covering tuition and fee gaps for juniors and seniors after all other aid is applied
• Licensure Fee Assistance: helping students pay for board examinations and licensing fees that can exceed $2,200
• Emergency Microgrants: providing small, flexible grants for unexpected expenses that might otherwise disrupt a studentā€™s education

Tom Raffio, president and CEO of Northeast Delta Dental said, ā€œwith this fund, UMA is enabling us to realize our mission of improving access to dental care by increasing the dental hygiene workforce. We are grateful for their commitment to easing the financial burden of their students, enabling them to complete their training and ultimately serve their community.ā€

Ā鶹APP dental hygiene program has a proven record of serving Maineā€™s needs. Between 2018ā€“2024, the program graduated 124 hygienists, with 98% remaining in-state to practice. From 2022 to 2025, graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on their board exams, underscoring the programā€™s exceptional quality and rigor. This gift will help more students cross the finish line and enter the workforce more quickly, expanding access to care in communities that need it most.

ā€œThis funding ensures more students can complete their program and enter the field where theyā€™re urgently needed,ā€ said Nancy Foster, professor of dental health, program coordinator and director of the dental hygiene program at the Ā鶹APP. ā€œToo often we lose exceptionally talented individuals to financial barriers that prevent them from finishing their education. With targeted support through scholarships, licensure assistance and microgrants, we can help students graduate and join Maineā€™s workforce where their skills are in high demand.ā€

Students agree the fund will make a difference.

ā€œAs a student in Ā鶹APP dental hygiene program, Iā€™ve seen firsthand how challenging it can be to balance the heavy workload, clinical hours, and costs such as tuition, textbooks, dental equipment and housing,ā€ said Hannah Blanchette, a senior at Ā鶹APP Bangor campus. ā€œKnowing that this support will be available means students like me can focus more on our studies and training and graduate prepared to serve Maine communities as licensed dental hygienists.ā€

According to licensure data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023), the number of dental hygienists practicing in Maine declined from 1,040 in 2019 to 840 in 2023. The shortage is most acute in rural areas and is expected to worsen as the workforce ages and fewer new professionals enter the field.

Student support through the Northeast Delta Dental Workforce Development Fund for Dental Hygienists will begin in the 2025ā€“2026 academic year. UMA will track and report outcomes including retention, graduation, licensure and post-graduation employment to measure impact and inform future efforts.

For more information about Ā鶹APP Dental Hygiene program, visit .

About Delta Dental

Northeast Delta Dental administers dental benefits in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, offering dental insurance programs for businesses and nonprofits of all sizes. The company, comprised of the Delta Dental Plans of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, serves 1,123,037 people, with a network of 1,926 participating dentists, or 86% of the total dentists in the tri-state area. The companyā€™s mission is to advance the dental health and overall wellness of its customers and the communities it serves. In addition to funding oral health initiatives, the company supports numerous organizations and events important to the communities through a corporate grant application process. Visit for more information.

The Ā鶹APPā€™s dental assisting program has received the accreditation status of approval without reporting requirements from the Commission on Dental Accreditation. This is the highest level of recognition CODA grants, signifying that the program meets or exceeds all standards of quality and requires no additional reporting until its next review in 2032.

Ā鶹APP program is the only accredited dental assisting program in Maine, making this recognition particularly significant for students and for the stateā€™s health care workforce. Accreditation assures students that their education at UMA is nationally recognized for quality and rigor, providing the skills and clinical training needed to excel in a growing profession.

ā€œThis achievement is a reflection of the dedication of our faculty, staff and students,ā€ said Assistant Professor of Dental Health and Dental Assisting and Expanded Functions Program Coordinator Courtney Noonan. ā€œAccreditation at this level ensures that students choosing UMA can count on a program that will transform their training into real opportunities, from licensure to meaningful careers in dental care.ā€

CODAā€™s accreditation supports graduates in pursuing licensure and enhances their employment opportunities. For Maine, it ensures a steady pipeline of well-prepared dental professionals who are ready to serve communities across the state.

ā€œThis recognition underscores Ā鶹APP leadership in workforce development,ā€ said UMA President Jenifer Cushman. ā€œWe are proud to provide students with access to high-quality, accredited programs that transform lives while also meeting Maineā€™s health care needs.ā€

Ā鶹APP dental assisting program is part of its larger dental health programs, which include dental hygiene, and expanded functions dental assisting through the UMA Dental Health Center in Bangor and Lewiston. Students in these programs benefit from hands-on experience, faculty expertise and a learning environment that supports both academic and professional growth.

On June 12, 2025: Nancy Foster, CDA, EFDA, RDH, EdM., professor and dental health programs coordinator was selected to serve as a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) Site Visitor!

A Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) Site Visitor plays a critical role in evaluating dental and dental-related education programs in the U.S. to ensure they meet CODAā€™s accreditation standards. A CODA Site Visitor conducts on-site evaluations of dental programs, visits dental or dental-related education programs (e.g., dental hygiene, dental assisting etc.). They observe educational facilities, interview faculty, students, and administrators, and review documents and records. Site Visitors evaluate whether a program meets CODAā€™s established standards for curriculum, faculty qualifications, facilities, and outcomes. They prepare a detailed report of findings, including strengths, weaknesses, and any areas of non-compliance. They are required to attend trainings to stay updated on accreditation standards and ensure consistency in evaluations across site visitors.

CODA Site Visitors are dental professionals, dental hygienists, educators, or specialists with substantial experience in their field. Site Visitors must have an understanding of dental education, either through teaching, administration, or clinical experience.

Professor and Dental Health Programs Coordinator Nancy Foster, was nominated by both the American Dental Hygienistsā€™ Association and by an accredited dental hygiene program. Nancy was selected by the commission to serve as a CODA Site Visitor for the 2025-2026 academic year and in June 2025 plans to undergo formal training and calibration before participating in site visits. Nancy serves for a 1-year term and may be reappointed by CODA.