Maine Dental Association celebrates 150th anniversary

The Maine Dental Association marked its 150th anniversary June 2-3 at its annual convention in Bar Harbor.

The association’s milestone has been recognized with congratulations from the American Dental Association’s president, members of Maine’s congressional delegation and Gov. Paul LePage, who in a proclamation recognized June 3 as Maine Dental Association 150th Anniversary Day in the state, according to a news release from the association.

The Maine Dental Society was incorporated Feb. 21, 1867, after Gov. Joshua Chamberlain signed the incorporation act into law. The organization’s incorporation occurred after its first meeting, which took place Sept. 25, 1866, at Bowdoin College Medical Center in Brunswick. Some of the topics at that first meeting included how to treat children’s teeth, filling and extracting teeth, treatment of exposed nerves, and “taking impressions for artificial teeth.” The society’s first president was Dr. Elbridge Bacon, who practiced in Portland. The group changed its name to the Maine Dental Association on June 18, 1960.

Today the association, which has its headquarters in Manchester, has more than 700 members in all corners of the state.

Winthrop woman receives dental group’s President’s Award

Patti Bureau, of Winthrop, has been recognized with a Maine Dental Association President’s Award. She was presented the honor June 3 at the organization’s annual convention in Bar Harbor.

Bureau received the award from outgoing Executive Board President Dr. Peter Drews as recognition of her service to the organization. President’s Awards are given out every year by the MDA as a way of spotlighting contributions to the organization.

Bureau has worked for the MDA since 2004 and is the association’s assistant director. She had taken on the role of interim executive director for several months in 2016 and 2017. Previously she was the organization’s information technology manager.

Compiled from contributed releases