State reaching crisis point on access to dental care

Workforce shortages and increased demand continue to take a toll on dentistry, with the issue approaching a crisis point in Maine. 

Barriers come from a multitude of reasons, including the fact that MaineCare reimbursement rates are lower than private insurance. Some people also struggle to navigate the system find a dentist who can take patients, something that could prove to be especially challenging for those with language barriers, such as new Mainers who have immigrated from other countries.

According to the Portland Press Herald, the number of Maine dentists has shrunk since 2019, even as demand and the state’s population increased and as the state added an adult dental benefit under MaineCare in 2022, making an additional 200,000 adults eligible for dental care.

Read more: Portland Press Herald 

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