Aroostook County may have more dentists in the future if three former graduates of the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry have anything to say about it.
“Aroostook County has been very fortunate of late to have three dentists move to the area. First, Dr. Mark Melendez-Christensen moved to the area in September 2007. He’s been working in our practice since then,” said Dr. Norma Desjardins, D.M.D., of Academy General Dentistry at 179 Academy St. in Presque Isle.
Two other dentists with ties to Melendez-Christensen now call the area home.
“This year, Mark’s son-in-law, Dr. Joseph White, D.M.D., came to The County and purchased Dr. Panesar’s practice in Fort Fairfield. And most recently, a classmate of Dr. White’s, Dr. Joel Veitschegger, D.M.D., has become an associate in our practice,” said Desjardins.
The three have received a warm welcome.
“With the shortage of dentists throughout the state and especially in northern Maine, we are happy to be able to say we have young dentists coming to live and work in the area,” Desjardins said.
Melendez-Christensen said a midlife shift in careers led him to his new profession.
“It was a late career change. I worked as an electrical engineer for a software company. I decided I wanted to get into the health care profession — get into something the kids could follow. My brother’s an MD and my brother-in-law’s a dentist,” said Melendez-Christensen, who grew up in Utah and moved here after graduating from college.
White, who took over Panesar’s practice and named it White Smiles Family Dentistry, said it was his father-in-law’s decision to become a dentist that influenced his own career choice.
“When he was deciding on where to go to school, my wife and I discussed it and decided to follow him,” said White.
The father-in-law and son-in-law spent one year attending the same university.
“It was great attending the same dental school for a year,” said White, who moved a lot as a child because of his father’s work as a chemical engineer.
Veitschegger met the two while attending the university.
“Joe and I just seemed to follow each other around,” said Veitschegger, laughing about the fact he usually was called on first in class since his name came before White’s whenever professors went in alphabetical order.
Melendez-Christensen graduated in 2007, and White and Veitschegger the next.
For Veitschegger, moving to Maine was a big step. He was raised in Kentucky and had never left the state.
“This is my first time living out of state. It’s smaller than home — Bowling Green. My dad, aunts and uncles are physicians, urologists and other medical professionals. Dad encouraged me to be a dentist — said I’d have more control over my life and decisions,” said Veitschegger, adding his younger brother also was accepted at the Kentucky dental school but chose to attend the University of Seattle where he earned his degree in dentistry.
The three explained how, while attending college, they worked as interns in public health settings. During that time the idea to move to a place such as Maine took hold.
“I wanted to go where I could do more good and could see more patients,” said Veitschegger. “Moving here serves a couple needs — I can serve the people who need dentists the most here and see more patients.”
The trio all practice general dentistry, performing a variety of dental procedures.
“I’d like to some day do root canals,” said Veitschegger, noting the limited availability of dentists who do such a procedure in Maine.
Veitschegger said many of their former classmates took positions with offices that limit their abilities until they get established.
“We have classmates that are performing cleanings or seeing just a patient or two a day. We wanted to go to work full time helping people. I see six or seven people now a day,” he said.
White said he received a warm welcome at his Fort Fairfield practice at 206 Main St.
“The patients have been grateful for us coming here, and we are grateful for the wonderful welcome we’ve received,” said White.
Melendez-Christensen said his practice has continued to thrive since he arrived three years ago with his wife, Charlotte.
“I got here the summer of 2007. Dr. Duff was looking to sell his interest [in Academy General Dentistry]. I worked here for a year, then negotiated to buy Dr. Duff’s interest,” said Melendez-Christensen, who noted he visited 16 practices in the state and covered 1,600 miles checking out employment possibilities before making his decision. “This was a top-tier practice.”
In the past year, White and his wife, Chalice, and their three daughters moved to the area. Veitschegger and his wife, Katherine, soon followed.
“It’s one of the few times Joe did something before me,” Veitschegger said.
White took over the Fort Fairfield practice July 13.
“I started working at Academy General Dentistry in May, then went to Fort,” he said.
Melendez-Christensen said White enjoys doing extractions. White added he has an interest in oral surgery.
“I started officially seeing patients here August 2,” said Veitschegger.
The younger dentists said it’s nice having access to more experienced dentists.
“We rely on Mark and Norma’s expertise,” said White. “It’s rare to have a dental lab handy as well — to have a guy upstairs.”
Both facilities are full-service dental offices.
“We do extractions, crowns, bridges and more. Our clients range from children to the elderly,” said Veitschegger.
Melendez-Christensen and Veitschegger offer office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. White’s hours in Fort Fairfield are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Both offices are seeing only “patients of record.”
“We basically see patients by appointment, although we do get an emergency in regularly,” said Melendez-Christensen.
Melendez-Christensen said there are a lot of individuals who are going without dental care — an issue he hopes to address by encouraging more dentists to consider serving rural communities.
“I’m planning a trip back to Kentucky to speak with dental students — explain how great the need is in places like northern Maine,” he said.
“That’s another reason I’m here,” said Veitschegger. “There’s such a backlog. Since my arrival, it’s cut patient wait time from a half year to a quarter of a year.”
Both offices accept cash and credit card payments, as well as a payment program.
“We both offer care credit — a payment plan that’s interest-free and takes minimal time to apply. You’ll know immediately if you qualify,” said White.
All three look forward to many years of serving the area’s dental needs.
“The County’s been really welcoming to us. It’s nice to be appreciated,” said Veitschegger.
“People are awesome. Our kids have been busy since we moved here. We like the people and the lifestyle,” said White.
“We want to say thank you to The County on behalf of the three Kentucky dentists,” said Melendez-Christensen. “Thank you, and remember to brush and floss.”
For more information on White’s practice, call 473-7723. For more information on Melendez-Christensen or Veitschegger, call 764-3764.