The one-day clinic is part of a national initiative led by the American Dental Association and responds to a documented access gap in children’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 Â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 UMA Bangor Campus Dental Health Programs hosted its annual Give Kids a Smile® Day event on Friday, February 21st. The 2025 event was a resounding success, with a full day of patients, dental assisting and dental hygiene students gaining valuable pediatric experience, and faculty and staff volunteers giving back to the community.

The following services were provided by 12 UMA Senior Dental hygiene and three Dental Assisting students and they were supervised by our UMA Dental Health Programs faculty and staff: 

• Dental Cleanings and dental examinations
• Dental x-rays
• Fluoride treatments
• Dental sealants 
• Oral Health and nutrition education 
• a Goodie bag to take home with: toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss 

Thank you to everyone who participated in this fun and important event!

The Â鶹APP’s (UMA) Dental Health Programs on the Bangor Campus will once again open their doors to the community with the annual “Give Kids a Smile Day,” an event dedicated to improving children’s oral health. Scheduled for Friday, February 21, 2025, the event provides free preventive dental care to children ages 5 to 19 who do not currently have a dental home.

Services offered include cleanings, dental x-rays, sealants, fluoride treatments and a comprehensive dental examination. The event, sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA), is an opportunity for families to access high-quality dental care at no cost while promoting lifelong oral health habits.

“Give Kids a Smile Day is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and support the health and well-being of our children,” said Associate Professor, Dental Health Programs Coordinator and Dental Hygiene Program Director Nancy Foster. “Through the dedication of our dental hygiene students and faculty, we’re able to provide essential preventive oral healthcare and education to children at no cost. Our goal is to create healthy smiles and lasting impact while emphasizing the importance of oral health.”

Appointments are still available for “Give Kids a Smile Day.” To schedule, call 207-262-7872 or  email umadental@maine.edu.

About the UMA Dental Health Programs
The Â鶹APP’s Dental Health Programs offer a comprehensive education in dental hygiene and dental assisting, preparing students to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in Maine and beyond. With state-of-the-art facilities and a focus on community engagement, UMA is at the forefront of advancing oral health in the region with dental training facilities on the Bangor campus and at the Lewiston center.

The Â鶹APP’s (UMA) Dental Health Programs on the Bangor Campus will once again open their doors to the community with the annual “Give Kids a Smile® Day,” an event dedicated to improving children’s oral health. Scheduled for Friday, February 21, 2025, the event provides free preventive dental care to children ages 5 to 19 who do not currently have a dental home.

Services offered include cleanings, dental x-rays, sealants, fluoride treatments, and a comprehensive dental examination. The event, sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA), is an opportunity for families to access high-quality dental care at no cost while promoting lifelong oral health habits.

“Give Kids a Smile® Day is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and support the health and well-being of our children,” said Associate Professor, Dental Health Programs Coordinator and Dental Hygiene Program Director Nancy Foster. “Through the dedication of our dental hygiene students and faculty, we’re able to provide essential preventive oral healthcare and education to children at no cost. Our goal is to create healthy smiles and lasting impact while emphasizing the importance of oral health.”

About the UMA Dental Health Programs

The Â鶹APP’s Dental Health Programs offer a comprehensive education in dental hygiene and dental assisting, preparing students to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in Maine and beyond. With state-of-the-art facilities and a focus on community engagement, UMA is at the forefront of advancing oral health in the region with dental training facilities on the Bangor campus and at the Lewiston center. Additionally, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees recently gave final approval to the Â鶹APP to expand its allied dental health education programs to the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s campus as part of a multi-university partnership to improve rural oral health care access and outcomes. For more information about Â鶹APP dental programs, please visit uma.edu/dental.

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic – UMA Bangor Campus

201 Texas Avenue, Bangor

The Â鶹APP (UMA) Dental Health Clinic is hosting its annual Give Kids a Smile® day in partnership with the American Dental Association. The event will be held on February 23 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm at the UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic located on Â鶹APP Bangor campus at 201 Texas Avenue in Bangor. The UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic operates according to the American Dental Association and Maine CDC recommended safety requirements and precautions.

Children ages 5 to 19, who do not have a dentist, can schedule free dental appointments to get cleanings, exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments, and dental hygiene education. Students from Â鶹APP Dental Hygiene programs will be providing care with the aid of staff dentists, and faculty members from Â鶹APP Dental Health Programs and volunteer dentists from the community.

For more information about the event, and to make an appointment contact the clinic at 262-7872 or email at umadental@maine.edu.

UMA transforms the lives of students of every age and background across the State of Maine and beyond through access to high-quality distance and on-site education, excellence in student support, civic engagement, and professional and liberal arts programs.

Friday, February 10, 2023 AND Friday, March 3, 2023

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days

UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic – UMA Bangor Campus, 201 Texas Avenue, Bangor

The Â鶹APP (UMA) Dental Health Clinic is hosting its annual “Give Kids a Smile Day” in partnership with the American Dental Association over a two-day period. The “Give Kids a Smile Day” will be held on February 10 and March 3 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm at the UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic located on Â鶹APP Bangor campus at 201 Texas Avenue in Bangor. The two-day event helps to ensure that the same number of children will be served while maintaining all necessary COVID-19 protocols. The UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic operates according to the American Dental Association and Maine CDC recommended safety requirements and precautions.

Children ages 5 to 19, who do not have a dentist, can schedule free dental appointments to get cleanings, exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments, and dental hygiene education. Students from Â鶹APP Dental Hygiene programs will be providing care with the aid of staff dentists, and faculty members from Â鶹APP Dental Health Programs, and volunteer dentists from the community.

All patients, guests, students and staff are required to wear face coverings. For more information about the event, required COVID-19 protocols, and to make an appointment contact the clinic at 262-7872 or email at bangorhygschool@maine.edu.

February 19 and March 12, 2021
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic – Bangor Campus
201 Texas Avenue, Bangor

Pre- COVID-19 image provided: Courtesy of UMA.

The Â鶹APP Dental Health Clinic is hosting its annual “Give Kids a Smile Day” in partnership with the American Dental Association over a two day period this year. The “Give Kids a Smile Day” will be held on February 19 and March 12 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm at the UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic located on Â鶹APP Bangor campus at 201 Texas Avenue in Bangor. The two-day event helps to ensure that the same number of children will be served while maintaining all necessary COVID-19 protocols. The UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic operates according to the American Dental Association and Maine CDC recommended safety requirements and precautions.

Children ages one to 18 who do not have a dentist can schedule free dental appointments to get cleanings, exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments, and dental hygiene education. Students from Â鶹APP Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs will be providing care with the aid of staff dentists and faculty members from Â鶹APP Dental Health Programs.

All patients, students, and staff are required to wear face coverings and undergo symptom and temperature screenings upon entry to the UMA Dental Clinic. For more information about the event, required COVID-19 protocols, and to make an appointment contact the clinic at 262-7872 or email at bangorhygschool@maine.edu.

The Â鶹APP Dental Health Clinic is hosting its annual “Give Kids A Smile Day” in partnership with the American Dental Association on Friday, February 21 from 8:00am – 5:00pm at the UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic located on Â鶹APP Bangor campus at 201 Texas Avenue in Bangor.

Children ages one to 18, who do not have a dentist, can schedule free dental appointments to get cleanings, exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, and dental hygiene education. Students from Â鶹APP Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs will be conducting the appointments with the aid of local volunteer dentists and faculty members from Â鶹APP Dental Health Programs.

To make an appointment, contact Bonny Largay at 262-7872.

Event History

The American Dental Association reports that over 4 million children have received care through Give Kids a Smile Programs. “The American Dental Association launched the Give Kids a Smile program nationally in 2003 as a way for dentists across the country to join with others in their community to provide dental services to underserved children. The program initially began as a one-day event in February but has since grown to local and national events year-round. Dentists and other team members volunteer their time, and services, to provide screenings, treatments, and education to children throughout the United States. Each year, approximately 350,000 children benefit from more than 1,500 events, all because of the efforts of 40,000 or more annual volunteers.”

Last year, the 2019 UMA Bangor Dental Health Program’s event provided free dental services to approximately 47 children; the value of the donated services totaled approximately $12,700! In summary, all children were seen by a Maine licensed dentist for an exam and our UMA students provided all the other preventive dental services. Last year, our UMA students provided over 30 prophylaxis cleanings, placed 24 dental sealants and took 33 sets of X-Rays.

The Â鶹APP Dental Health Clinic is hosting its annual “Give Kids A Smile Day” in partnership with the American Dental Association on Friday, February 22nd from 8:00am – 5:00pm at the UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic located on Â鶹APP Bangor campus at 201 Texas Avenue in Bangor.

Children ages one to 18, who do not have a dentist, can schedule free dental appointments to get cleanings, exams, x-rays, fluoride, sealants and dental health education. Students from Â鶹APP Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs will be conducting the appointments with the aid of local volunteer dentists and faculty members from Â鶹APP Dental Health Programs.

For more information about the event, and to make an appointment, contact Bonny Largay at 262-7872.