Chronic staffing shortages forces closure of Maine dental offices
Two rural offices in Maine will close, impacting thousands of patients
Two rural offices in Maine will close, impacting thousands of patients
Community Dental leaders announced Friday that they will close their offices in Rumford and Monson. The offices in Portland, Biddeford, Lewiston and Farmington will remain open.
The Board of Directors for Community Dental blamed chronic workforce shortages for both dentists and dental hygienists. They said the COVID-19 pandemic made things worse, and they have been left with long-term unfilled vacancies.
The Rumford Center has been without a dentist since November 2021, and the Monson clinic has been unable to fill its hygienist opening. The practices will both close effective Nov. 23.
Community Dental is notifying patients, working to complete unfinished treatments and referring patients to other providers in the area.
The Rumford Center opened in 2008 and has provided care to nearly 2,000 patients each year.
Community Dental opened the Monson dental clinic in 2020 and provided care to almost 200 patients in 2021.
Community Dental is a nonprofit oral health care provider with a focus on serving underserved communities. Founded in 1918, Community Dental served over 14,000 unique patients in 2021, 46% of whom were children. Over seventy percent of patients use MaineCare or qualify for income-eligible sliding scale fees to pay for services.