FARMINGTON — After 15 years of serving patients downstairs in the Mt. Blue Health Center, Community Dental is moving upstairs and expanding into a new state-of-the-art office.

The new office officially opens Aug. 20 with an open house planned from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 27, Kathy Gregory, dental care supervisor, said.

The current office was not adequate to meet the needs of patients in Franklin County, one of the most underserved areas for dental coverage in the state, she said.

According to federal statistics on health professional shortage areas, Franklin County currently has the highest score for a shortage of dental providers in the state, she said. The scores are based on the number of full-time dental providers, the population and the number of immediate care plans for low-income patients.

It’s a distinction that often goes to Oxford or Franklin counties, she said.

The local office, one of five in Maine, provides dental care to a cross section of the community, including all ages, she said.

“We believe everyone deserves the best dental care,” she said.

Along with the new office, the staff has doubled, including two dentists and two hygienists and expanded hours.

New patients are currently being accepted, she said.

The nonprofit organization led by a board of directors provides care for patients with MaineCare, private insurance and others on an income-based sliding fee for those with no insurance.

The United Way of the Tri-Valley helps provide coverage for some patients needing emergency care who have no insurance, she said.

For more information, call the office at 779-2659.

  abryant@sunjournal.com

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