Four months after graduating with a bachelor’s in dental hygiene and a master’s in dental therapy, Claire Roesler moved from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Bangor, Maine, where she joined Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) as its first dental therapist. As a result, Claire has the esteemed designation of being the first dental therapist to work in the State of Maine. The state adopted legislation in 2014 recognizing dental therapy as a profession; however, the legislation had to be amended in 2019 to allow dental therapists to practice.

Like all new paths being forged, there were certainly bumps along the way. Claire spent the first four months performing hygienist work while PCHC negotiated a collaborative management agreement with a clear scope of work to practice as a dental therapist. During her first year, Claire advocated extensively for dental therapy in Maine. 

While Bangor is Maine’s third largest city, PCHC provides dental care to nearby rural communities. It’s not unusual for a patient to drive two to three hours one-way to receive routine and emergency dental care. Many of the patients seen from 2020 to 2022 needed emergency dental work due to the lack of available dental appointments during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a dental therapist, Claire worked closely with PCHC’s Executive Clinical Director of Dental Dentistry, Matt Offman. When asked how Claire impacted PCHC’s services, Dr. Offman stated, “Working alongside Claire and having a dental therapist as a part of the dental team was instrumental in opening access to care for the communities we serve in Maine. She bridged a gap that afforded patients to be seen in a timely manner by an exceptional clinician. We look forward to continuing to expand access to care and the dental therapy profession here in Maine.”

Like many healthcare providers, PCHC remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic but experienced staff shortages. For example, in 2022, PCHC’s dental team was reduced significantly by six dentists and four hygienists. Yet, it could still provide critical services due to having a dental therapist on staff.