After growing up in Michigan, I attended the University of Iowa on a football scholarship and although we didn't visit the Rose Bowl, I was able to graduate in the Honors College majoring in pre dental science, biochemistry, and nutrition.
I married Beth, my high school sweetheart, in Yarmouth and then fell in love with Maine. We spent the next year at the University of Maine at Orono where I taught and did research in biochemistry and nutrition.
We returned to Iowa for dental school where I graduated with honors and received awards, including the Academy of Orthodontics award and the Dean's Leadership award. A year's post-graduate residency at Maine Medical Center brought us back to Maine permanently.
For the next six years I developed my practice in South Portland, enjoyed a very satisfying and rewarding dental practice and thought I would stay there until I retired. Fate led us to Dover-Foxcroft and to people who value the importance of family and a unique quality of life.
We have four children, Hillary, Heather, Jeff and Chris who continue to provide our greatest joy in their growth and love. We also have two son-in-laws, Joe Caruso, who married Hillary in 2000, and Tom Evans who married Heather in 2006.
Dr. Steinke has focused his ability to provide the highest quality care through dedicating himself to nearly unparalleled continuing education. After graduating with Honors from the University of Iowa, he completed a one-year general practice residency at the Maine Medical Center, where he focused on increasing his skills in all aspects of dentistry and, in addition, took the medical rotation of Anesthesiology. Also in the residency, Dr. Steinke gained extensive skills in dental trauma care, working closely with oral surgeons.
Hello! Many of you have known me for many years, as I have been working in the office assisting my father since I was 12. For those of you who are new to our practice, I am Dr. Steinke's oldest daughter. I attended the University of Vermont for my undergraduate education, graduating from the Honors College with a degree in Biology, and a minor in Nutrition in 2000. I went on to the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, graduating in 2004. After graduation, I returned to Maine to fulfill a life long dream of practicing dentistry with my father. He and I greatly enjoy working together to serve the people of central Maine.
I married Joe Caruso, my high school sweetheart, in 2000, and am fortunate to be able to work with him everyday, as he now manages the two offices. Joe and I feel very fortunate to have been able to return to our home state to raise our family.
I am blessed to have two boys, Jack and Griffin, and a daughter, Lauren, who many of you have met in our office. I hope that one of them may be part of the next generation of dentists to serve Central Maine!
Outside of the office, I enjoy horseback riding, hiking, traveling, reading and enjoying the outdoors with my family. As my children grow, what is left of my free time is spent on bleachers cheering on my children and their teammates throughout the football, field hockey, basketball, and baseball/softball seasons.
Dr. Caruso strives to follow in her father's footsteps, and is also committed to providing the highest possible quality of care through continuing education. While at the University of Connecticut, Dr. Caruso received numerous awards in academic excellence, leadership, and clinical skills. She also established the first student chapter of the Academy of General Dentistry in the country, and was a delegate for the American Student Dental Association. Dr. Caruso was awarded her Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in July 2010, and her Mastership in 2014. To be given these awards, Dr. Caruso passed a 400 question comprehensive exam and took over 1,600 hours of continuing education. Dr. Caruso is also a Fellow in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
Hello, I am Kevin Devine and describe myself as the new, old guy in the practice. I was born in Columbia, Illinois. It is a small community not far from St. Louis, Missouri. It was there that I grew up and graduated high school. I attended Southern Illinois University, received my degree in Biochemistry, and went on to graduate from their Dental Medicine program in 1983. I then served as a dental officer in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After marrying my wife Kathryn, we bought the practice of my childhood dentist and started our life back in my home town. I practiced there for 30 years and sold the practice in 2017. Not being ready to retire though, a good friend offered me an opportunity that Kathy and I could not pass up. Doctors Steinke and Caruso have welcomed me into the practice allowing us to live in a beautiful place in semi-retirement and continue to do what I love, which is helping people get healthier. We have one son, Charles. He and his wife Christina have blessed us with a grandson, Grant, who we so enjoying watch grow. We have two Australian Shepherds that we rescued and they keep us entertained and active. I look forward to meeting you and hearing your story. We are about building relationships with the people we serve. Thanks for making Kathy and I feel so welcome.
Chelly graduated from Belfast Area High School and went on to get her Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene at the University of Maine. She now resides in Gouldsboro with her husband Mike, and son Jacob. She enjoys spending time with her family and in her free time enjoys designing and making jewelry.
The first account of the pineapple was given by Christopher Columbus and his men, who landed on the island now known as Guadeloupe on their second voyage of discovery. Columbus brought the fruit back to Europe in 1493. Its cylindrical shape and rough, spiky surface caused the Spaniards to name it pina, after the pine cone, although the pineapple is much larger by comparison. The English noted the same resemblance, hence our word 'pineapple'.
For native islanders, the pineapple symbolized hospitality, and the Spaniards soon learned they were welcome if a pineapple was placed by the entrance to a village. This symbolism spread to Europe, then to Colonial North America, where it became the custom to carve the shape of a pineapple into the columns at the entrance of a plantation.
Seafaring captains used to place fresh pineapples - souvenirs of their lengthy travels to tropical ports - atop the porch railings of their homes when they returned. It was a symbol then that the man of the house was home - albeit briefly - and receiving visitors.
The pineapple has been a universal symbol of hospitality and welcome for many centuries all over the world. Dr. Steinke adopted the pineapple as the logo for his practice in 1983 to illustrate that everyone was welcome to his practice. Steinke and Caruso Dental Care carries that tradition on today - we look forward to welcoming you into our dental family!