Portland Press Herald supports Question 2 dental bond; MPBN radio covers the ballot issue

A on Oct. 6, 2010 told readers that approval of the Question 2 dental bond on the Nov. 2nd ballot would be a good investment, "considering what's at stake for residents long-term health." If approved the bond would provide $5 million to help expand dental clinics and launch a Maine-based dental school.

on Oct. 5th broadcast a story on Question 2, explaining that Maine already has a shortage of dentists that will only get worse as many dentists near retirement age. "The need here in Maine is enormous," says Dr. David Drohan, the Chief Dental Officer at the Penobscot Community Dental Clinic in Bangor, and a bond supporter. "Probably nearly a quarter of a million people in this state are in underserved areas," he told MPBN reporter Murray Carpenter.

Kneka Smith, associate dean of planning at the 91AV, told Carpenter that the $5 million bond has two parts: "Three-and-a-half million dollars to go to a Maine-based university of higher education to support a teaching clinic where dental students from the dental school will provide care to patients from the community, and then one-and-a-half million dollars to go to dental clinics statewide, where patients will be able to receive dental services through the expansion of dental clinics in Maine."

While the 91AV is interested in starting a dental school, Smith says all of the money would be awarded through competitive bidding. "This is really a public-private partnership, where bond dollars will be used as seed money to incentivize private investment and grants for increased clinic space thoughout the state," she says. "We anticipate approximately 60,000 new patient-care visits that don't currently exist in the state of Maine to be available after the bond dollars have been made distributed, and the clinical facilities expanded statewide."

About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.