The Â鶹APP’s Dental Assisting, Expanded Function Dental Assisting, and Dental Hygiene programs are celebrating a standout year. Students across all three programs completed rigorous coursework and secured job offers before graduation. Graduates of the Dental Assisting and Expanded Function Dental Assisting programs achieved a 100% pass rate on the national exams required to enter the profession. Dental Hygiene graduates earned a 100% pass rate on their clinical board exam. 

In Dental Assisting and Expanded Function Dental Assisting, all 17 students passed their board exams. The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) exam, a nationally recognized credential that validates a dental assistant’s technical expertise, clinical knowledge, and commitment to patient care and safety. Passing the DANB exam is widely seen as a standard of excellence in the field and can open the door to expanded duties and higher earning potential for entry‑level assistants. 

“Because Â鶹APP dental assisting program is the only accredited program of its kind in the state, our students are highly sought after,” said Courtney Noonan, assistant professor of dental health. “All of our dental assisting students at both the Bangor and Lewiston locations received multiple job offers and secured job placement upon graduation.” 

The Dental Hygiene Class of 2026 posted similarly impressive results. 19 students were enrolled in the cohort, and nearly all completed their Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene degree requirements on time, with one student taking an approved incomplete for personal reasons and is set to finish by December 2026. 

All 19 students took and passed the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Examination, earning a 100% clinical board pass rate. Four graduates are already planning to continue their education by enrolling in Â鶹APP Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program this summer and fall. Every graduate received at least one job offer before walking across the stage.

“Our 2026 graduates are continuing UMA Dental Hygiene’s strong tradition of excellence. In recent years our students have consistently achieved perfect clinical board‑exam pass rates, and most choose to stay and practice right here in Maine. This class is helping meet a critical workforce need and expanding access to essential oral health services across the state,” said Nancy Foster, Dental Hygiene program coordinator.

Maine faces a critical shortage of allied dental professionals, with demand rising as the workforce shrinks. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows the state’s dental hygienist workforce declined by roughly 200 workers between 2019 and 2023, a trend described as a “critical shortage” in 2025 legislative testimony. The need has grown since MaineCare’s 2022 expansion added 200,000 eligible adults, while many dental practices continue to face hiring challenges.

UMA is helping meet that need as a central partner in Maine’s dental workforce strategy. Notably, UMA offers the only accredited dental hygiene and dental assisting programs at a public institution in Maine. Through allied dental programs and clinics in Bangor, Lewiston, and soon Presque Isle, UMA is expanding access to training, investing in facilities and student support, growing enrollment, and providing targeted scholarships and exam-fee assistance. With its latest graduates achieving 100% job placement, UMA is preparing more hygienists, dental assistants, and expanded function dental assistants to serve high-need communities across Maine.

For all three allied dental programs, the classroom and clinic achievements translated directly into employment, underscoring the close alignment between Â鶹APP programs and employer needs. As demand for oral health services continues to rise, and as the state looks to address ongoing workforce shortages, graduates of Â鶹APP dental programs are driving the future of patient care and strengthening access to dental care in communities across Maine.

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 Â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.

Â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 Â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 Â鶹APP mission to transform lives through high-quality education, student support, and civic engagement. It also reflects Â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 Â鶹APP Bangor Dental Hygiene Clinic during this year’s Give Kids a Smile® Day, a program that continues to make a meaningful difference for Maine families. Hosted by Â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 Maine’s growing oral health workforce needs. The event reflects Â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 Smile® Day highlight the powerful role UMA students play in supporting the health of communities across the state.

See our video from Give Kids a Smile® Day.

Dental hygiene students provided free adult dental screenings Oct. 29 as part of Fall Into Health, a community wellness fair hosted at Â鶹APP Lewiston Center. The event gave residents access to preventive care while helping train Maine’s future dental hygienists.

Â鶹APP dental hygiene program is Maine’s only public program and serves as a vital pipeline for the state’s oral health workforce. Through community-based experiences like Fall Into Health, students gain hands-on training while addressing workforce shortages and improving access to care across the state. This year’s event served 19 adult participants, the maximum number of appointments available for the free one day event.  

“Events like this allow students to experience the full scope of educational practice,” said Courtney Noonan, coordinator of dental assisting and expanded function dental assisting programs at UMA. “They are building clinical confidence while meeting real needs in their own communities.”

The Fall Into Health fair featured UMA and University of Southern Maine students along with community health partners. Highlights included free adult dental screenings, dental education, free toothbrushes and interactive health demonstrations. Â鶹APP involvement reflects its mission to expand access to education and promote community wellness across Maine. Â鶹APP dental assisting program is offered at the Lewiston Center, giving students in the region the opportunity to prepare for in-demand careers in oral health while studying close to home.

Â鶹APP dental hygiene program plays a critical role in strengthening Maine’s oral health workforce. Between 2018 and 2024, 98 percent of Â鶹APP dental hygiene graduates remained in Maine to practice. UMA graduates consistently achieve a 100 percent licensure pass rate and are serving in communities throughout the state.

“This event highlights Â鶹APP dual role of educating the next generation of dental professionals and strengthening Maine’s oral health workforce,” said Nancy Foster, dental hygiene program director. “Our students graduate ready to serve their neighbors and fill essential roles in communities across the state.”

Building on a recent $250,000 investment from Northeast Delta Dental to launch the Northeast Delta Dental Workforce Development Fund for Dental Hygienists, UMA continues to strengthen Maine’s oral health workforce by helping students overcome financial barriers, complete their education and enter the field where they are urgently needed.

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

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 Maine’s dental hygiene workforce at a time of critical shortage.

The fund will provide scholarships, licensure fee support and emergency microgrants to students in Â鶹APP Bangor-based dental hygiene program, Maine’s only public program and a vital pipeline for the state’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.

“We are deeply grateful to Northeast Delta Dental for this generous investment in our students,” said UMA President Jenifer Cushman. “This 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. It’s a powerful example of how partnerships can strengthen Maine’s health care workforce.”

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 student’s education

Tom Raffio, president and CEO of Northeast Delta Dental said, “with 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.”

Â鶹APP dental hygiene program has a proven record of serving Maine’s needs. Between 2018–2024, 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 program’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.

“This funding ensures more students can complete their program and enter the field where they’re urgently needed,” said Nancy Foster, professor of dental health, program coordinator and director of the dental hygiene program at the Â鶹APP. “Too 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 Maine’s workforce where their skills are in high demand.”

Students agree the fund will make a difference.

“As a student in Â鶹APP dental hygiene program, I’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,” said Hannah Blanchette, a senior at Â鶹APP Bangor campus. “Knowing 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.”

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 2025–2026 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 Â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 company’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.

In her second-year as dental hygiene student at the Â鶹APP, Lila Pierce was appointed as a student delegate to the American Dental Hygienists Association House of Delegates. Representing District 1—which includes Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont—she joined ten other selected students and professional delegates from across the country in June of 2025 to review proposed resolutions and help shape the future of the profession.

Only one student from the national delegation is selected to cast an official vote during the House of Delegates meeting. In her role, Lila is attended state meetings, worked with her mentor Traci Dempsey, president of the Maine Dental Hygiene Board, and prepared for the experience. “I never imagined being able to engage in the profession in such a big and far-reaching way while still in school,” she said. “It’s exciting, and I want to contribute in a meaningful way.”

Lila’s interest in dental hygiene began when she was just seven years old and had a positive experience with a hygienist who made her feel comfortable and cared for. After high school, she was accepted to an out-of-state program, but cost put it out of reach. She chose UMA for its affordability and proximity, and discovered an environment that exceeded her expectations. “The faculty are always willing to help,” she said. “They’re engaged with us in class, on Zoom, even in our group chats. They make sure we’re never alone in this.”

Now in the clinic, Lila says the hands-on experience is helping her dream come to life. She’s especially grateful for Â鶹APP professionalism course, which she says gave her the tools to not only act like a professional, but become one. “Finally being able to get my hands-on experience in the clinic feels unreal,” she said. “So far I’m really enjoying my newfound career. I’m excited to test the limits of this profession even after I graduate.”

The Â鶹APP (UMA) Dental Health Program has received a $5,000 grant from the Maine Veterans’ Dental Network (MVDN), funded by Northeast Delta Dental, to provide free dental care for veterans. This funding is part of a larger $300,000 grant awarded to MVDN to continue expanding access to essential oral healthcare for Maine veterans.

Since its launch by Governor Janet Mills and Northeast Delta Dental in 2021, the MVDN has provided oral health services to 1,471 Maine veterans — many receiving dental care for the first time since separating from the military. The network collaborates with nonprofit dental clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Maine’s dental teaching institutions, including UMA, to connect veterans with preventive and restorative care.

“Our veterans have given so much to Maine and the nation, and the least we can do in return is ensure they have the support they need to maintain their health and well-being,” said Governor Janet Mills. “I thank Northeast Delta Dental for their continued generosity and the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services for administering the program. Together, this important partnership will ensure more Maine veterans have access to the dental services they deserve.”

This marks the fourth consecutive year UMA has received MVDN funding, which will support dental hygiene preventive services, radiographs and basic restorative care at Â鶹APP dental clinic in Bangor. The grant is expected to serve approximately 80 veterans.

“At UMA, we are dedicated to providing high-quality dental care while also giving our students hands-on experience that makes a real impact in the community,” said Associate Professor and Dental Health Programs Coordinator Nancy Foster. “We are incredibly grateful for this continued support, which allows us to provide services for Maine’s veterans and help improve their overall health and well-being.”

UMA has a longstanding commitment to serving veterans, military service members and their families. As a Military Friendly school and a Military Times Best for Vets institution, UMA provides dedicated student support services and flexible learning options tailored to meet the needs of those who have served.

“We are honored to receive this funding once again and to continue providing essential dental care to Maine’s veterans,” Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College of Professional Studies Brenda McAleer. “This grant aligns with Â鶹APP mission to support those who have served our country by offering them high-quality, accessible services.”

To determine eligibility, veterans interested in MVDN services can visit or call 207-287-6836.

Learn more about Â鶹APP Dental Health Patient Services.

Four Â鶹APP (UMA) faculty members and one alumna have just returned from a mission trip to Belize where they volunteered their time and talents providing dental services to people with limited access to dental care.

UMA Lecturer of Dental Health Una Purvis coordinated the dental outreach in collaboration with Belize dentist Dr. Silvia Rios and Crosspoint Church in Bangor. The dental outreach was part of a 26-person group that also included a medical team as well as others to teach classes and assist with building projects.

Along with Purvis, UMA Lecturer of Dental Health Dr. Amy Alexcovich, Adjunct Faculty Cheryl Skilling and Aspen Cote, and dental program alumna Liz Cushing provided dental care to about 150 children and adults in three Belize towns – Progresso, Crooked Tree, and Santa Marta. “Some of these places are very remote and difficult to access,” said Purvis. “Crooked Tree had recently experienced weeks of flooding. The roads reopened the day before we arrived.”

The dental team provided teeth cleanings, fillings, fluoride varnish, sealants, and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) which remineralizes the tooth and can temporarily pause the progression of tooth decay.

“Having the opportunity to do a mission trip is life changing,” said Alexcovich. “The people are so appreciative and grateful. Working with them reminded me why I got into dentistry in the first place, and revitalized my passion for my work.”

Â鶹APP Dental Club helped support the trip by contributing supplies. Students did not go on the trip as Belize requires visiting medical and dental service providers to be fully educated, licensed, and otherwise credentialed.

“As dental educators, we teach our students the importance of community service, and this trip allowed us to lead by example and put that lesson into action,” said Purvis. “It was a humbling experience to provide care to patients who otherwise have little or no access to dental care.”

Four UMA Dental Hygiene Students and Associate Professor Nancy Foster volunteered at the annual 2022 Special Olympics hosted on June 11, 2022 on the University of Maine campus in Orono.

The UMA Dental Hygiene students taught the athletes how to brush and floss, choose healthy snacks, and gave away t-shirts, oral health goody bags which included toothbrushes, toothpaste and other fun dental items to encourage the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums.

The Special Olympics staff reported that over 800 athletes participated in this event. Also in attendance were four dentists, University of New England Dental Students and faculty, several practicing dental hygienists.

UMA Dental Hygiene Students in attendance:

• Kendra Belden
• Riley Gray
• Carrie Rutan
• Abigail Hartsgrove