CARIBOU, Maine — Pines Health Services will now operate a new dental health clinic. The service will be offered through Pines Dental, located within the Pines Women and Children’s Health Center on the Cary Medical Center campus at 163 Van Buren Road in Caribou.
Pines Dental Services will be led by dentist Rachel Taddeo, DMD, and dental hygienist Patricia Ericson, RDH. They will be joined by an additional dentist, David Levasseur, DMD, on June 20.
A team of dental assistants will also be on staff. Services will include preventative and restorative dental care that includes prophylaxis/cleanings, digital x-rays, dental sealants, fluoride treatments, fillings, simple extractions, oral health screenings and instruction.
“Preventing oral health problems — especially for children and pregnant women — is an important factor in substantially improving the quality of a person’s life overall,” said Susan Feeney-Hopkins, dental practice manager.
“While the primary focus of Pines Dental is children and pregnant women, we welcome patients of all ages regardless of their ability to pay. Pines Dental will serve as a patient’s primary dental home for accessible and affordable dental care,” Feeney-Hopkins said.
The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded Pines funding for oral health service expansion to provide preventive dental health services to health center patients across northern Aroostook County.
In Maine, poor oral health is the most prevalent chronic illness in children and adults. A 2015 Community Needs Assessment Survey indicates only 52 percent of all respondents had had a dental checkup in the last year. The grant award improves and expands the delivery of preventive oral health services through Pines Health Services area, which encompasses 22 towns across 900 square miles.
Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For further information call (207) 498-1314.
