CARIBOU, Maine — The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded Pines Health Services funding for Oral Health Service Expansion beginning in the current 2016 fiscal year.
The funds will provide preventive dental health services to health center patients across northern Aroostook County. The HRSA grant award improves and expands the delivery of preventive oral health services through the Pines Health service area, which encompasses 22 towns across 900 square miles.
In Maine, poor oral health is the most prevalent chronic illness in children and adults. A 2015 Community Needs Assessment Survey indicated only 52 percent of all respondents had a dental checkup in the previous year. A quarter of respondents reported difficulty getting the dental care they need – more than 80 percent of whom cited barriers of no money, no insurance, or no dental provider who will accept them as patients.
“Preventing oral health problems can substantially improve the quality of a person’s life overall,” said Jim Davis, CEO of Pines Health Services. “Untreated oral health diseases can lead to a wide range of other health problems.”
“The HRSA grant is funded for two years,” said Anthony Lahey, director of accounting. “The funds will be used to enhance our integrated primary care/oral health capacity with a combination of onsite and contracted dental services. The anticipation is that the initial two-year funding period will be followed by ongoing funding at this level.”
