BELFAST — Waldo County Dental Care (WCDC) has received a $7,500 grant from the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation. The Northeast Delta Dental Foundation provides funding to organizations whose services contribute to the increased accessibility of oral health care and education in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

The funds provided by Northeast Delta Dental will be used to replace worn and broken instruments needed to provide preventative and restorative oral health care. Not having an adequate number of instruments available to meet the daily needs of the practice slows the delivery of care. Over the last 18 months, WCDC has seen an increased demand for services, with a longer than normal waiting list for new appointments due to a backlog of patients seeking services after the COVID-19 shutdown in the spring and summer of 2020.

“Replacing this equipment will allow us to better meet the needs of our community and continue to provide high quality oral health care to our patients.” said Kent Clark, MD, chief medical officer at WCGH, in a news release.

As the only safety net dental clinic in Waldo County, WCDC provides critically needed oral health care to low income, uninsured patients in Waldo and Knox counties. Dental services provided by WCDC include cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, fillings and extractions. In some cases, dentures are offered, although additional fees may apply. To learn more, please call WCDC at 505-4910.

To ensure patients receive the best and safest care, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital have put in place additional safety measures during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more about how we have created a safe space for patients, go to mainehealth.org/coronavirus-covid-19/safe-appointments.

MaineHealth encourages everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as the best way to end the pandemic. Vaccinations are available at The Pharmacy at PBMC, PBMC Walk-In Care, WCGH Walk-In Care, and from our primary care providers.

Northeast Delta Dental Foundation

The mission of the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation is to improve the access to, and the quality of, oral health care and education for the public and the dental communities in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. This
mission is in harmony with the mission of Northeast Delta Dental to increase access to oral health education and dental services.

Waldo County General Hospital

Waldo County General Hospital is part of MaineHealth, a not-for-profit integrated health system consisting of eight local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and more than 1,600 employed and independent physicians working together through an Accountable Care Organization. With more than 19,000 employees, MaineHealth is the largest health system in northern New England and provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. For more information, please visit wcgh.org.