Impact in Action Video: How Mainely Teeth Provides Whole-Person Care for Dental Patients
In honor of National Dental Hygienist Appreciation Week, we’re spotlighting the work of Amber Lombardi, a dental hygienist from Maine who is on a mission to revolutionize access to dental care through Mainely Teeth. Read on to learn more about Amber’s story, the impact she’s having on underserved and underinsured communities, and the impact that Findhelp’s tools have had on her work.
Limited Access to Care
Despite being a crucial component of our overall health, access to oral healthcare remains an elusive privilege for many people across the United States. A study conducted by the American Dental Association (ADA) showed that more than 15% of Americans needed dental care but did not obtain it, and financial barriers were the top reason. Many providers don’t accept patients with Medicaid, and people living in rural communities are sometimes more than an hour drive from a dentist’s office.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, searches for “dental care” on Findhelp platforms have risen steadily. In 2023 alone there were more than 215,000 searches for dental-related services.
Searches for Dental Care on Findhelp Platforms
“The traditional model of care has been working very well for some, but it has completely blocked other people,” said Courtney Vannah, Program Manager of Oral Health Initiatives at MCD Global Health. “It needs a revolution.” That’s where Amber Lombardi and Mainely Teeth come in.
Mainely Teeth: Filling the Gaps
Amber brought her passions for dental hygiene and public health to Maine after learning about the need for better access to care there. For more than a decade, she dreamed of creating a mobile dental clinic that she could use to reach people all over the state.
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the schools where she had been providing cleanings and oral health screenings, Amber knew it was time to build the clinic.
She and her husband, Mike, went all-in on the dream and co-founded a nonprofit called Mainely Teeth. Built out of a converted horse trailer, the clinic-on-wheels was road ready in two months.
Drawing on her own past struggles as a single mom with two young kids, Amber works tirelessly to ensure access to quality care for the most vulnerable. People from all walks of life receive treatment through Mainely Teeth, which has expanded to physical offices in addition to the traveling clinic. Their patient population includes asylum-seeking families from all over the world, toddlers in Head Start programs, high school students, children and adults with developmental disabilities, and elderly military veterans.
Impact in Action: Whole-Person Care for Dental Patients
Our Impact in Action video series explores stories of how our customers successfully partner with Findhelp to positively impact their communities and support the populations they serve.
Mainely Teeth uses the Findhelp platform for all of their inbound referrals, partnering with other organizations and care providers to reach more and more new patients. They also use Findhelp to identify patients who are struggling to meet their basic needs, and to connect those people with helpful resources.
Watch the short video below to learn more about how Mainely Teeth partners with us to expand access to dental care and support the oral health of individuals in need.
Amber continues to advocate for better access to oral healthcare for all as Mainely Teeth expands its reach using advancements like oral health cameras and teledentistry, and they hope to serve as a model for systemic change across the country.
Amber’s story is alsods the subject of our newest Findhelp Films documentary, Filling the Gaps, which will be released this summer.
Partner With Us To Expand Access to Care
If you’d like to learn more about how we partner with CBOs and customers nationwide and can help you build or expand your social care strategy, grab some time with us.
