After four years of board service, American Dental Therapy Association's Claire Surges (Roesler), a registered dental hygienist and advanced dental therapist, has fulfilled her term commitment to the ADTA Board of Directors. She now plans to focus on her clinical practice, expanding dental therapy training programs to more states, and enjoying life as a newlywed. An integral part of the association's executive team, she's demonstrated leadership and commitment to dental therapy during her tenure. From trailblazing as the state of Maine's first licensed dental therapist to serving patients in rural parts of the Midwest, making personal connections with patients and other providers is one of the things she enjoys most about the profession.

In her role as a board director, Surges has served as ADTA's representative for the state of Maine, sat on the conference planning committee, and most recently served as ADTA’s Annual Conference co-chair.

After graduating from high school in Iowa, Surges attended the University of Minnesota, earning a B.S. in Dental Hygiene and a Master of Dental Therapy. From there her career journey took her eastward by nearly 1,500 miles to Maine, the easternmost state in the contiguous U.S.  Recruited by Penobscot Community Health Care, a federally qualified health center located in Bangor, Surges took the offer, packed up, and began work as the state's first – and for a while the only – dental therapist. Colleagues and the ADTA supported her throughout the licensure process and in establishing dental therapy within the region. It was then that she realized she wanted to join the board.    

"I was enjoying the help, and I wanted to be on the forefront of helping move dental therapy into other states," explained Surges.

Surges found those professional connections invaluable and said board service with the ADTA strengthened and widened her network. It allowed her to connect with dental therapists from various backgrounds across the country, many of whom work in different settings, from rural clinics to urban centers. Together, they shared advice and ideas on expanding access to dental care, and she gained insights into how dental therapists were making a difference in different communities. 

Serving on the board helped Surges stay informed and actively contribute to the growth of dental therapy in regions that were starting to embrace it, like Vermont and Connecticut. This involvement, she explained, helped her stay connected to the profession's broader goals and issues beyond her day-to-day clinical work.

In her clinical practice, Surges has fostered a love for her patients. Being raised in the Midwest, she feels at home serving rural populations, who often must travel long distances to access care. Working in both large FQHCs and small private practices allowed her to experience the diverse needs of patients. Whether working in Bangor, Maine, or Cannon Falls, Minnesota, she values the opportunity to help underserved communities. The relationships she built with patients were particularly meaningful, as she had the chance to connect with them personally, often learning about their families and backgrounds.

"People travel from really far just to get to these dental appointments, and they're very thankful and appreciative that they get to see a provider in a timely manner and someone who cares about them. I have always enjoyed making longer-term connections and forming relationships with the patients," she said.

Looking back on her early career, Surges said mentorships and role models made a lasting impact, and it's something she encourages students and new graduates to look for as they begin their careers.

"My biggest recommendation is to make sure you find a supervising dentist who is invested in you. That's one of the biggest keys to success. I'm thankful for all the dentists who have advocated on my behalf and have been willing to mentor or teach me," Surges said.  

Looking ahead, Roelser remains committed to improving educational opportunities for future dental therapists and would like to see more training programs established on the East Coast. She's aware many people are eager to enter the profession but cannot uproot themselves and relocate for training. 

"For dental therapy to be sustainable, we need to work on getting more education programs in states that have newly passed (dental therapy licensing) legislation," Surges said. 

Surges moved back to Minnesota two years ago and currently works as a dental therapist at Compass Dental in Cannon Falls. Happy to once again be living closer to family, on any given day you'll find her nurturing the relationships she's cultivated both within the ADTA and in her clinical practice. 

She might be asking a patient if she can play specific music or adjust their chair for comfort. Or talking with a nervous elder about a childhood fear. She might be advising a young professional or simply spending time with her husband, whom she married in September. 

That closeness to friends and family is why Surges understands firsthand the challenges of leaving everything behind for new opportunities, and it's why she's so passionate about expanding dental therapy training programs to more locations across the United States. She's now within driving distance of her parents, sisters, grandmother and cousins, and she's about to become an aunt. 

"Those fun life events are the things you miss when you live far, far away," she said.