Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-04

on the books. stated Attorney Gener-
al Warren C. Philbrook of Waterville
in an opinion handed down Saturday.
The opinion was rendered at the re-
quest of DIR. Langdon S. Chilcott of
Bangor, president of the Board of Dem
tai Examiners of the State of Maine,
and Attorney General Philbrook's letter
to DR.. Chilcott bearing on the matter
is as follows:
Il have the honor to acknowledge
receipt, of two inquiries upon which
you desire my opinion.
First. man who was formerly i'm
the practice of dentistry in this State
moved away prior to 1891. He has
been in practice in another State, hut
did not register in Maine in accordance
with Section of the Dental Registra-
ton Act. He has now returned and de-
sires to re-enter the practice of dentis-
try in Maine. Can he register without
an examination, or has he forfeited his
right to do so by his own neglect?
Second. Can the Board of Dental
Examiners of the State of Maine under
the present dental law, enter into rec
iprocity agreements with the dental
accept certificates issued by such state
boards in lieu of examinations by the
Maine board?"
The dental registration act, so call
ed, was enacted in 1891 and contained
some provisions which are now obso-
lete and some of the provisions of the
act of 1891 have been modified by SUBJ
sequent acts of the Legislature so that
the law as now recorded in r. S., Chap
ter IT, Sections IS to % inclusive, is
the law of the State today although the
wording in some respects differs from
the original act of 1891.
Section Of the act of 1891 pro-
vides as follows:
Every person engaged i'm the prac-
tice of dentistry or dental surgery in
this state at the time of the approval
of this act shall. within three months
thereafter, cause his or her name, resi-
dence and place of business to be regis
tered with said board of examiners
The statements of every such person
shall be verified under oath before a
notary public or justice of the peace
III such manner as may be prescribed
by the board, and upon due compliance
anu pay vi Tic lee DIS pIONlutQ III
Section seven of this act, shall receive
from said board a certificate in due
form. signed by the president and at
tested by the secretary authorizing
such persons to practice dentistry in
this State"
This provision. you will observe, re-
lated only to those who We're engaged
in the practice of dentistry or dental
surgery in this State at the time of
the approval of the act. Your ques-
ton involves the right of dentist who
had moved away from this State prior
to 1881 and, as l assume from your
statement, was not a resident of the
state at the time of the approval OF
the act of 1891. The provisions of the
act above quoted could not apply to him
under any circumstances for it only
applied 10 those who We're engaged in
practice in this State at the time OF
the approval of the act. tt will be
therefore necessary for him to comply
with the law as it now stands as TO
examination and payment of fees.
Your second question must be an
swered in the negative. Examination
in certain subjects as well as the pay
ment Of a fee is made by our law n
fundamental prerequisite to the issn-
ance of the certificate referred to as
emitting man TO practice dentistry
in this State. The board of dental ex-
aminerS have no power whatever to
enter into reciprocal arrangements
with dental examining boards of other
States whereby a certificate issued by
another State would stand in lieu of
the examination which the law re-
quireS TO be made under the statute
as it now stands upon the books"