The Children’s Oral Health Network of Maine

What The Children’s Oral Health Network of Maine does

The Children's Oral Health Network of Maine (COHN) is a statewide nonprofit founded in 2018 and headquartered in Yarmouth, Maine, that coordinates a network of hundreds of partner organizations and individuals around the goal of preventing dental disease in Maine children. It operates as a backbone organization rather than a direct service provider, running program initiatives including Maine Dental Connection (an adaptation of Dr. Paul Glassman's Virtual Dental Home teledentistry model, using store-and-forward technology to connect mobile dental hygiene teams in schools and Head Start centers with remote dentists), From the First Tooth (pediatric fluoride varnish and silver diamine fluoride in primary care), Dental Steps for ME (oral health integration into well-child visits for ages 0-5), the Oral Health Navigation Learning Series (a micro-credentialed workforce training program issuing digital badges through the University of Maine System), and Cavity Free Futures (community-led cavity risk reduction).

COHN is funded entirely through philanthropic and government sources — primarily the Maine Oral Health Funders affinity group, the Maine Health Access Foundation, the Maine CDC, the Northern Border Regional Commission, the Maine Department of Labor's State Workforce Board, and the Cumberland County Public Health Department (with federal American Rescue Plan pass-throughs). It does not charge fees for services. The organization monetizes impact through grant-funded program operations, with revenue mechanics tied to the ability to demonstrate outcomes such as the reported 80%+ of Virtual Dental Home patients kept healthy in community settings and 100+ digital badges earned.

Its go-to-market is a community-led, collective-impact model targeting children and youth (ages 0-21) as the primary beneficiary segment, with schools, childcare settings, primary care practices, and Independent Practice Dental Hygienists as delivery partners. Distribution is statewide within Maine, with explicit rural expansion underway through the NBRC Catalyst grant.

Name

The Children’s Oral Health Network of Maine

Legal name

Children's Oral Health Network of Maine

Website

https://mainecohn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Children's Oral Health Network of Maine is a statewide nonprofit founded in 2018 that coordinates hundreds of partner organizations to prevent dental disease in Maine children through teledentistry, school- and primary-care-based programs, workforce training, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Oral Health Network Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Offices of Dentists (621210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

School/Community-Based Preventive Dental Programs (HLABAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community & Public Health Dentistry Clinics (FQHC/School-Based/Nonprofit) (HLABAAAF), Mobile/School-Based Pediatric Dental Clinics (HLABAGAK), Dental Teleconsultation Marketplaces (HLALALAL)

Keywords

• Children's oral health
• Preventive dental care
• Oral health advocacy
• Teledentistry services
• Dental workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Augusta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Philanthropic Funding: Primary funding from Maine Oral Health Funders (MOHF) affinity group of philanthropic partners, including trusts, foundations, and health access foundations. MOHF has provided funding for over 22 years to support the oral health system.
2. Government Grants: Funding from Maine Department of Labor's State Workforce Board, Maine CDC, Northern Border Regional Commission's Catalyst program, and federal American Rescue Plan funding for specific initiatives like Cumberland County School Oral Health Project.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Children's Oral Health Network of Maine is a statewide nonprofit coalition that mobilizes partners and communities to transform pediatric oral health care. It delivers and coordinates programs including a teledentistry-enabled Virtual Dental Home model bringing mobile dental hygiene teams into schools and childcare, integration of oral health into primary care visits, workforce upskilling through a digital-badge learning series, and policy advocacy, all aimed at preventing dental disease in Maine children.

Product overview

The Children's Oral Health Network of Maine operates as a networked organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include Maine Dental Connection (Virtual Dental Home teledentistry model), From the First Tooth (pediatric primary care integration), and Dental Steps for ME (0-5 well-child visit integration), which together work to bring oral health care into schools, community settings, and primary care. Supporting these are the Oral Health Navigation Learning Series (workforce training with digital badges), Cavity Free Futures (community risk reduction), Oral Health Policy (advocacy), and resource tools including the Dental Access Map and Maine Dental Career Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• From the First Tooth: Pediatric oral health initiative promoting oral health of infants, children, and young adults in primary care.
• Dental Steps for ME
• Maine Dental Connection
• Cavity Free Futures
• Oral Health Navigation Learning Series

Products and services

• Maine Dental Connection A statewide initiative implementing locally-adapted versions of the Virtual Dental Home model, sending mobile dental hygiene teams into community settings (schools, Head Start centers) to provide preventive and early intervention care via teledentistry in connection with remote dentists.
• From the First Tooth A pediatric oral health initiative promoting oral health of infants, children, and young adults in primary care settings by supporting medical providers to apply fluoride varnish and silver diamine fluoride to prevent and arrest tooth decay.
• Dental Steps for ME A model for children ages 0-5 that integrates oral health into primary care settings by including oral health in every well-child visit, applying silver diamine fluoride, and integrating dental hygienists into the primary care team.
• Oral Health Navigation Learning Series A first-of-its-kind initiative providing upskilling for frontline workers and career exploration opportunities in the oral health field through low-barrier, self-paced, online modules that allow learners to earn Oral Health Foundations digital badges issued by the University of Maine System.
• Cavity Free Futures A program supporting community-led cavity risk reduction initiatives across Maine communities.
• Oral Health Policy Advocacy efforts for policy changes that expand access to oral health care in Maine.
• Dental Access Map An interactive map resource helping Maine residents find dental care access points across the state.
• Maine Dental Career Center An online resource for searching oral health career options and opportunities in Maine.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% of patients kept healthy in the community through Virtual Dental Home model
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Maine Oral Health Funders (MOHF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffinity group of philanthropic partners convened over 22 years ago focused on improving oral health for all people in Maine. MOHF provides necessary funding to keep non-profit dental practices and mobile programs in operation and addresses long-term sustainability of Maine's oral health system. MOHF funds the Maine Oral Health Centers Alliance and supports COHN's work.
• MCD Global HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers the Oral Health Navigation Learning Series. Partner in Maine CDC School Oral Health Program administration. Core partner in developing Dental Steps for ME model and From the First Tooth initiative.
• University of Maine at AugustacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner in developing and piloting Dental Steps for ME project. Also developed new course in dental hygiene program aligned with Independent Practice authority for Registered Dental Hygienists.
• Northern Light HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner in developing and piloting Dental Steps for ME project for integrating oral health into primary care.
• Katahdin Pediatric DentistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner instrumental in developing and piloting the Dental Steps for ME project.
• Lincoln HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner instrumental in developing and piloting the Dental Steps for ME project.
• Jesse Albert Dental and Orthodontic CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner in Dental Steps for ME project. Member of Maine Oral Health Centers Alliance.
• Catholic Charities of MainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner instrumental in developing and piloting the Dental Steps for ME project.
• Maine CDC (Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in School Oral Health Program, Silver Diamine Fluoride Integration, and Oral Health Navigation Learning Series. Maine CDC provided initial funding for Oral Health Navigation concept and continues to support this work.
• Maine Chapter of the American Academy of PediatricscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates to make pediatricians and child health professionals part of the oral health care team. Partner in Silver Diamine Fluoride integration and From the First Tooth initiative.
• University of Maine System (UMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIssues Oral Health Foundations digital badges through the University of Maine System micro-credentials for learners who complete modules in the Oral Health Navigation Learning Series.
• CareQuest Institute for Oral HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on 'From Silos to Synergy' white paper on integrating oral health into whole person care through interprofessional practice. Funded and supported Dental Steps for ME.
• Maine Access Immigrant NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner in developing the Oral Health Navigation Learning Series, focusing on reaching immigrant and refugee communities.
• MaineHealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Silver Diamine Fluoride integration into primary care and From the First Tooth initiative.
• Maine Primary Care AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Silver Diamine Fluoride integration into primary care across Maine.
• Partnerships for HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with University of Maine at Farmington on financial analysis of Maine's oral health care system, including development of financial simulators and business case tools.
• Cumberland County Public Health DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funding the Cumberland County School Oral Health Project with federal American Rescue Plan funding, supporting comprehensive oral health services for every school in the county.
• Dr. Paul Glassman (California)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped the original Virtual Dental Home model. COHN adapted this model for Maine through the Maine Dental Connection initiative.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Community Catalyst: National nonprofit advocating for health equity and access, including oral health initiatives. Comparable to COHN through its advocacy and coalition-building approach to health system reform, with stronger focus on general health equity but active oral health work.

Broad incumbents

• CareQuest Institute for Oral Health: A leading national nonprofit focused on oral health equity, grant-making, research, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable to COHN's mission and methods (e.g., the 'From Silos to Synergy' white paper was co-produced with CareQuest), but at far greater scale and with a national footprint.
• National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC): National advocacy organization for the community health center model, which includes oral health integration. Comparable to COHN's connection to FQHCs and primary care integration (Dental Steps for ME) but as a broad incumbent covering medical, dental, and behavioral health.
• DentaQuest: A major dental benefits and oral health philanthropy organization with deep investment in school-based dental programs and prevention. Comparable to COHN through its focus on preventive pediatric oral health and school-based delivery, but operates as a much larger, multi-state enterprise.
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry: National professional association for pediatric dentists. Adjacent peer to COHN through shared focus on pediatric oral health, though operating as a clinical professional association rather than a community-based service network.

Regional players

• Arcora Foundation: Washington-state-focused foundation working to improve oral health through prevention and access programs. Comparable to COHN as a state-level oral health catalyst with a strong school- and community-based program portfolio, but with a larger endowment and dedicated Delta Dental of Washington backing.

Direct peers

• National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA): National association of safety-net oral health providers and supporting organizations focused on improving oral health access for underserved populations. Directly comparable to COHN as a network/coalition model serving community-based oral health programs, though operating at a national scale rather than state-level.
• America's ToothFairy: National nonprofit focused on children's oral health access and education through a network of community-based programs. Comparable to COHN as a children's oral health network, with a similar mission targeting underserved children and a member-based affiliate model.
• School-Based Health Alliance: National organization advancing school-based health services, including oral health integration in schools. Directly comparable to COHN's school-based delivery channel (Maine Dental Connection, Cumberland County School Oral Health Project) but at a national policy and advocacy scale.
• Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN): A national network of individuals, organizations, and policymakers working to improve oral health equity. Highly comparable to COHN's collective-impact coalition model, with a broader national mandate but similar mission framing around systems change and access.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@COHNMaine
• Facebookfacebook.com/mainecohn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Children’s Oral Health Network of Maine