Welcome to Seaport Smiles

Expanding access to affordable dental care in Waldo County 

Access to dental care in Waldo County has been a serious challenge for many years. For too many children and adults, regular dental visits just aren’t available — which means small problems can quickly turn into serious health issues. 

Seaport Smiles is a capital campaign to support the opening of the PCHC Belfast Dental Center — a new, accessible dental clinic that will bring much-needed care to children and families throughout the Midcoast region. We invite you to learn more about this important effort by viewing our Seaport Smiles Project Summary.

Why It Matters 

  • Not enough dentists: With one dentist for every 5,741 residents, Waldo County has more than twice as many residents per dentist as the state average.
  • Kids are going without care: In 2019, 41% of insured children in the region had no preventive dental visits. 
  • Significant coverage gaps: Nearly half (45.3%) of children and young adults under 21 lack dental insurance. 
  • High reliance on MaineCare: 50.3% of children ages 0–19 are enrolled in MaineCare, yet few private dental practices accept MaineCare or offer sliding fee scales. 
  • Lack of access leads to higher costs: Without regular dental care, oral diseases worsen quickly, often leading to costly ER visits and more complex health problems. 

Our Solution: The PCHC Belfast Dental Center 

Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) is opening a brand-new, 8-chair dental clinic on the second floor of the Seaport Community Health Center at 21 Schoodic Drive, Belfast. 

The new clinic will: 

  • Deliver an estimated 7,200 patient encounters annually—bringing vital dental care to more children and families in our community 
  • Provide routine, acute, and walk-in dental care — with acute and walk-in services available to anyone 
  • Offer services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay 
  • Reduce costly reliance on hospital emergency departments 
  • Support local dental practices by helping meet community demand 
  • Create 13–15 permanent healthcare jobs and support local construction jobs during renovation 

“When we surveyed our patients and the community regarding their biggest health issues and needs in the region, dental care ranked very high on the list,” said Lori Dwyer, President & CEO of PCHC. “The clinic will bring much-needed access to oral healthcare to this region, reducing costly reliance on hospital emergency department visits to treat dental pain. It will also allow us to focus on prevention and the provision of dental home services in Waldo County.” 

Your Support Makes It Possible 

The Seaport Smiles capital campaign aims to raise $1,000,000 to renovate and equip the new dental center. 

Your donation will help us bring quality dental care to thousands of people who need it most — improving health, supporting families, and strengthening our community. 

Join Us! Every gift—large or small—makes a difference. 

Donate Now

Our Deepest Thanks

We’re profoundly grateful for the incredible support this project has received from our community. Each contribution—whether through advocacy, partnership, or financial support—helps bring expanded dental care within reach for families across our region.

Community Partners & Advocates

These partners shared their voices and letters of support to help make this vision a reality. Their advocacy has been essential to moving this project forward:

  • Seaport Smiles Campaign Committee 
  • City of Belfast 
  • Waldo County Commissioners 
  • MaineHealth 
  • Waldo Community Action Program 
  • Belfast Chamber of Commerce 

Leadership Gifts & Donors

We are also deeply thankful to the generous organizations and individuals who have contributed $500 or more to support the Seaport Smiles Campaign. Your generosity is helping build a healthier future for our community.

  • Congressionally Directed Spending 
  • Northeast Delta Dental
  • Maine, Department of Economic Community & Development (DECD)
  • Dunbar & Brawn Construction
  • First National Bank – Maine
  • TAC Architectural Group Inc
  • Mount Pleasant Dental Wellness
  • Phillip Higgins, DMD
  • Verizon Business
  • Christopher Lyman
  • Danica Loring
  • Susan Cheff, MD
  • Suetta Tenney, MD
  • Front Street Shipyard
  • Lori & Bill Dwyer

Get Involved

For more information or to learn about major giving opportunities, contact us: 
📧 Communications@pchc.com 
103 Maine Ave, Bangor, ME 04401 
207-404-8100