The University of Maine at Augusta’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 UMA’s 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 UMA’s 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 UMA’s 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 UMA’s dental programs are driving the future of patient care and strengthening access to dental care in communities across Maine.