ROCKLAND — Beth is a mom to five children. Her children qualify for MaineCare, but she has no dental or medical insurance through her part time job working nights at a grocery store. She was so grateful when she connected with the Knox Clinic and was able to get long awaited restorative dental care from a volunteer dentist at Midcoast Family Dentistry.

“I can’t thank you enough for taking me in and doing some work on my teeth,” she said.

Beth wrote in a thank you note. “It’s beneficial in so many ways. It’s a big step forward to have nice pretty teeth again…it means so much to me. A big thank you to the clinic as well to go above and beyond to help people have a better smile.”

On March 26, 2021, several local dentists volunteered their services to bring smiles to Beth and other Knox Clinic dental patients. In one day they donated nearly $20,000 dollars worth of dental care to local residents! Thanks to their efforts, patients experienced relief from infection and pain. A new smile can also cosmetically enhance their job opportunities, and build self-confidence, creating the potential for greater self-sufficiency.

The Knox Clinic serves the uninsured and under-insured whose income is 200% of federal poverty guidelines or less. Our dental patients are typically between 2 to 60 years old. Some of our dental patients are on MaineCare, especially the children we serve, as there are few dentists who accept MaineCare locally.

The vast majority of our patients work, however they do not receive dental insurance through their employer, and they can’t afford to purchase insurance privately.

Participating dentists in Dentists with a Heart include Dr. Randy Thivierge and Dr. Thomas Clemente from MidCoast Family Dentistry, Dr. Amy Campbell, Dr. Michael Hersom, and Dr. Ben Lacy from Glen Cove Dental Associates, Dr. Rebecca Laliberte from Mount Pleasant Dental Care, and Dr. Spencer Ross from Thomaston Family Dentistry. These offices cared for patients in need of dental care who had no other access to affordable treatment, and in many cases their entire staff volunteered to make it happen.

Local cupcake bakery LAUGH Loud SMILE Big generously donated tasty cupcakes to help us say thank you to our volunteer dental offices. Many thanks to LAUGH Loud SMILE Big, to the dentists and their staff, and to the many supporters and volunteers who make our work possible throughout the year.

The Knox Clinic is a volunteer based non-profit advocating for and providing free/low cost medical, dental, prescription assistance, mental health and wellness services to the uninsured and underinsured in Knox County, plus our border towns. We believe everyone deserves access to quality care! To make a tax-deductible donation, to volunteer, or to request services, please call 301-6996, or visit our website at www.knoxclinic.org.