Dental hygiene students provided free adult dental screenings Oct. 29 as part of Fall Into Health, a community wellness fair hosted at UMA’s Lewiston Center. The event gave residents access to preventive care while helping train Maine’s future dental hygienists.
UMA’s 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. UMA’s involvement reflects its mission to expand access to education and promote community wellness across Maine. UMA’s 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.
UMA’s dental hygiene program plays a critical role in strengthening Maine’s oral health workforce. Between 2018 and 2024, 98 percent of UMA’s 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 UMA’s 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 UMA’s Dental Hygiene program, visit uma.edu/dentalhygiene.