AUGUSTA — Big changes are happening at The University of Maine at Augusta Lewiston Center’s dental assistant program increasing community outreach potential, growing class sizes, and keeping the program in sync with the latest dental technology.
Through a portion of a $665,000 grant from Northeast Delta Dental, the program is expanding their space, adding three new dental chairs, and a 3D x-ray machine. “We’re doubling our class capacity from 12 to 24,” shares Courtney Noonan, assistant professor of dental health at UMA Lewiston, “we will be able to provide services to more community members as well as annually add up to 24 skilled, critically-needed, dental health care professionals to Maine’s workforce.”
This expansion enables UMA to play a lead role in increasing access to vital career development experiences in dental care, while also benefiting more Maine employers by creating talent pipelines bringing skilled technicians to fill the numerous vacant positions, thus supporting this critical-need healthcare field and bringing improvements to the Maine economy. Tricia Spearin, assistant professor of dental health at UMA Lewiston relays, “I’m excited to be part of this momentum of increasing access to dental care in the Lewiston area and increasing the skills of dental assistants here in Maine.”
UMA has the only public dental assistant and dental hygiene programs in Maine accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Attending an accredited dental program means that not only do the students receive an excellent education, but they can sit for board certification and state licensure exams immediately upon graduation. For more information on the DA and EFDA Programs, contact Lynett Kelly (207-262-7805).
UMA’s Lewiston’s dental clinic will announce two free or low-cost community care events at UMA’s pristine, state of the art clinic during the spring semester — the annual dental screening day, and the Give Kids a Smile day for those ages 5 to 19. At both events, supervised students collect intake information and take a full set of 3D x-rays, and a dentist provides a thorough examination. Patients can then make an appointment with one of our trained expanded function dental assistants for fillings, fluoride treatments, or sealants as needed. Should the patient need more extensive care, they are referred to a local dentist or dental clinic. Details about these opportunities will be announced closer to the events.
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. For more information, please visit https://www.uma.edu/.
