If the Maine Dental Association sounds more like the state tourism board, you can’t blame them.

In the latest attempt to address the state’s dentist shortage, the association is touting things like Maine’s livable communities and access to skiing, fishing and beaches to bring more practitioners into the state, particularly its rural regions.

The problem they are trying to address is serious. Maine’s dentist-to-patient ratio is below the national average, and it is much worse outside the major population centers.

It is a problem that will likely become worse, with 40 percent of Maine’s dentists nearing retirement age.

Untreated dental problems are among the most likely reasons for a Maine resident to rush to an emergency room.

Among the best things people can do for their general health are to have good dental hygiene and to get regular dental checkups. That’s why Maine needs more dentists, particularly in the areas that are not adequately served, and if a tourist-style promotion can bring a few more practitioners into the state, it would be worthwhile.

More promising, however, would be the creation of a dental school and teaching clinics, which is the subject of a $5 million bond issue on the November ballot.

The school would operate a clinic in which supervised students would provide care to people who are not currently getting it. The experience with other higher-education institutions suggests that a number of graduates will choose to stay in the state to practice.

Maine voters will be asked to make a one-time contribution to get the dental school off the ground. Considering what’s at stake for residents’ long-term health, this would be a good investment.

 

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