NHTI Receives $500K Northeast Delta Dental Gift to Enhance Dental Hygiene Program

One of the largest gifts in the institution’s history

CONCORD (April 30, 2024) – NHTI-Concord’s Community College and Northeast Delta Dental (Delta Dental) are expanding on a long-time partnership and shared vision to support oral healthcare in the region. The Foundation for NH Community Colleges received a $500,000 gift from Delta Dental for NHTI to address the demand for and shortage of dental hygienists and dental assistants. The gift is one of the largest in the history of the college and will support the expansion of NHTI’s dental clinic services to Medicaid patients.

“Northeast Delta Dental has long supported dental health for Medicaid patients,” says NHTI President Patrick Tompkins. “Through their vision and our partnership, for the first time NHTI will bring affordable oral hygiene care to this New Hampshire demographic that is important for the wellbeing of the Granite State.”

This investment from Delta Dental comes on the one-year anniversary of legislation that provided comprehensive Medicaid oral health benefits for NH adults. It enables NHTI to launch a three-year pilot initiative to expand the reach of the school’s Dental Hygiene Clinic, the educational facility on campus where students provide dental care to the public with close supervision by faculty.

“NHTI offers the only program in New Hampshire for training dental hygienists,” Tompkins says. “Expanding service to Medicaid patients in our Dental Hygiene Clinic also expands the training opportunities for students who will work in all our communities.”

The funds from Delta Dental, combined with an equal investment from the college, will allow for the hiring of a Medicaid specialist and a supervising dentist. In addition, the funding will allow NHTI to make necessary upgrades to the program’s equipment and improvements in the program’s materials and radiology labs.

“It’s great for the community, and it’s an incredible opportunity for our students,” said Lisa Scott, NHTI Dental Hygiene Program department chair. “Our students will gain invaluable experience in treating these patients in a clinical setting.”

Established in 1970, the NHTI Dental Hygiene Program is recognized for its high-quality training that prepares students for this healthcare role serving patients in New Hampshire. Dental hygienists provide a range of preventive and therapeutic dental services, including assessments and care planning.

“With the expansion of Medicaid dental benefits, coupled with a continued dental hygiene shortage, the need for a skilled workforce is critical,” said Tom Raffio, president and CEO of Northeast Delta Dental. “We are committed to continuing to support the state’s only Dental Hygiene Program at NHTI and the needed expansion to sustain and grow the future dental workforce that is essential for the region.”

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About NHTI
NHTI – Concord’s Community College is a dynamic public 2-year college that provides rewarding academics and a full campus experience for students, businesses, and the community. NHTI offers 80+ academic programs to 4,600+ students annually. Our programs include Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Engineering, Liberal and Visual Arts, Education, Criminal Justice, and Mathematics, all with our stellar reputation for academic excellence earned over our more than 50 years serving the Concord community. NHTI is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the NE Association of Schools and Colleges and is part of the Community College System of New Hampshire.

About Northeast Delta Dental
Northeast Delta Dental administers dental benefits in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, offering dental insurance programs for businesses and nonprofits of all sizes, and individuals and families with no access to employer-sponsored dental benefits. The company continues to help address the shortage of dentists practicing in northern New England by providing scholarships and loan repayment programs to encourage more dental students to remain in the region following graduation and to practice in rural and underserved areas.

About Foundation for New Hampshire’s Community Colleges
The Foundation is the charitable organization established to provide greater access to educational opportunities through financial assistance for students across New Hampshire’s seven community colleges. The Foundation actively seeks contributions from public and private sources to create scholarships and program partnerships that prepare students for in-demand, skilled jobs to meet the needs of New Hampshire’s workforce. To learn more about supporting community college students, visit GiveNHCC.org.