Training the Next Generation of Dental Assistants to Expand Access to Care

Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center in Maine, is home to a high-demand dental center serving a largely underserved population—most of whom are uninsured, underinsured, or covered by MaineCare (Maine’s Medicaid program). Like much of the state, PCHC faces a critical shortage of dental providers and dental assistants, making access to care even more challenging.

To help close this gap, the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation awarded PCHC a $25,000 grant to support the recruitment and training of new dental assistants. This innovative initiative provides not only formal education but also paid, hands-on training—removing key barriers for those entering the field. Launched this spring, the program is now welcoming its first three dental assistant trainees this summer, marking a hopeful step toward strengthening Maine’s oral health workforce.