Tracey L. Jowett, RDH, BSDH, IPDH, President
“What a gift it is to work with some of the most talented, caring, giving, people in the field of dentistry providing service to the people of Maine. For the past 20 years, it has been my pleasure to offer care in school-based settings having worked under Public Health Supervision and currently under the Independent Practice of Dental Hygiene through Saving Smiles of Maine. Apart from being a mother, Saving Smiles has been the most rewarding position I have held. In my role as an educator at UMA, I am equally encouraged to see enthusiasm for the profession and a passion for public health in our next generation of dental providers. I am excited for the future as we work together improving access to dental care in Maine!"
A graduate from the University of Maine, Orono/Bangor, in 1993, Tracey L. Jowett began her work as a full time Dental Hygienist in Southern Maine. In 1995 she accepted a dental hygiene position in Belfast moving back to Central Maine closer to family, renovated the old 1920’s family farm with the love of her life, and began a family of their own.
Seeking to better serve her community, she began volunteering in her church, local school, girl scouts, preschool programs, and homeschoolers group raising dental awareness through education. In 2000 she worked with other providers through the Waldo County Dental Project, which was the start of her mission to reach people without access to regular dental care. In 2003, with the help from a generous contributor, she founded what is now Saving Smile of Maine. Tracey became authorized to work as a Public Health Dental Hygienist under the supervision of a dentist in the alternative setting of local schools and Head Start centers offering preventive dental hygiene services to those in need. Continuing in a private dental practice as well, she attained her license to administer local anesthesia in 2003 and to administer nitrous oxide in 2008.
Tracey has assisted multiple dental groups serving as a provider, in policy development, and in growth through information sharing efforts. She has partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Dental Health Outreach, Inc., Children's Oral Health Network, Head Start Programs, Maine Dental Access Coalition, along with others collaboratively seeking to improve the outreach of dental hygienists under Public Health Supervision. In 2013, having had over 5000 clinical hours under a general dentist within five years and upon completion of a thorough assessment application and examination by the Maine Board of Dental Practice, she attained authority under the Independent Practice of Dental Hygiene. Appointed by Governor LePage then re-appointed by Governor Mills, Tracey Jowett currently serves as Chair of the Maine Board of Dental Practice and as an Assistant Professor at the University of Maine of Augusta, Bangor Campus, Dental Health Programs.