Dentist donates X-ray unit to Bangor clinic

BANGOR – Dr. Robert Erickson of New England Denture Center on Stillwater Avenue has donated a Gendex Stand-Up Panorex X-ray machine to the city of Bangor’s Children’s Dental Clinic. The unit replaces the 1970s vintage machine for which parts are no longer available.

Erickson and licensed denturist William Buxton were on hand to present the equipment to city dentist Dr. John Frachella.

Ron’s Moving and Storage donated services to transport the machine to the city’s health and welfare department. Dominick Robbins, Ray Kane and Douglas Starbird did the moving.

Ed DeFillipo of Sullivan-Schein Dental arranged for free installation of the machine at the children’s clinic. The equipment produces an X-ray of a patient’s entire mouth.

Frachella said, “This equipment will enable our Children’s Dental Clinic to continue to offer the highest quality dental care to those children in our community whose families cannot afford private dental care. A quality smile is essential to a child’s self image. This equipment will help our staff put a smile on hundreds of faces.”

Sawn Yardley, director of health and welfare in Bangor, said, “Our clinic receives the majority of its operating support from the taxpayers of Bangor and a small grant from the state of Maine. Given budget restrictions, it is difficult for the city to fund large capital expenditures for the clinic. The generosity of Dr. Erickson, Ron’s Moving and Storage and Ed DeFillipo is greatly appreciated by all of us with the city and by those who will benefit from it in the future.”