An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding the Licensure of Dentists, Dental Hygienists and Denturists
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0906
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: BROMLEY, RECTOR, AUSTIN, FARRINGTON
Amends: 32 MRSA §1098, 32 MRSA §1100-C, 32 MRSA §1

Legislative Document 
No. 906 
S.P.314 
In Senate, February 22,2005 
An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding the Licensure of Dentists, 
Dental Hygienists and Denturists 
Submitted by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation pursuant to Joint 
Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator BROMLEY of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative RECTOR of Thomaston and 
Representatives: AUSTIN of Gray, FARRINGTON of Gorham. 
Printed on reeye led paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §I074, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pte A, 
§60, is further amended to read: 
§l074. Affiliation with American Association of Dental Examiners 
The board may affiliate with the American Association of 
Dental Examiners or its successor as an active member and pay 
regular 
dues 
to that association and 
may 
send 
one 
or 
more 
delegates to the meetings of the American Association of Dental 
Examiners 
or its successor. 
These 
delegates 
are entitled to 
receive compensation provided for in section 1071. 
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §I085, as amended by PL 2003, c. 669, §6, is 
further amended to read: 
§108S. Endorsement; fees 
The board 
lS authorized, 
at its discretion, without the 
examination as provided, to issue a license to an applicant who 
furnishes proof, satisfactory to the board, that the applicant 
has been licensed to practice dentistry in another state or a 
Canadian province after full compliance with the requirements of 
its dental 
laws. 
If 
an 
applicant 
is 
licensed 
to 
practice 
dentistry 
in 
another 
state 
or 
a 
Canadian 
province, 
that 
applicant's professional 
education 
may 
not 
be 
less 
than 
is 
required in this State and the applicant must have been at least 
years in actual practice in the state or Canadian province in 
which 
the license was 
granted. 
Applicants 
for 
licensure by 
endorsement who meet the requirements of this section must be 
interviewed in person by the board or members of the board, prior 
to being issued a license. 
The personal interview may be waived 
at the board's discretion based upon proof of overseas military 
deployment; however, the applicant shall submit to an interview 
by telephone or the equivalent as determined by the board. 
Every 
license of this type issued by the board must state upon its face 
the grounds upon which it is issued and the applicant may be 
required to furnish proof upon affidavit. The fee for the license 
is determined by the board, but may not be more than $550. 
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §I089. as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pte A, 
§71 and PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6, 1S further amended to read: 
§l089. Drugs and dental procedure 
A dentist aas-~ae-£i~a~-~e may prescribe drugs or medicines, 
perform 
surgical 
operations, 
administer 
~eae£~~---aRe 
local 
anesthetics and use appliances as may be necessary for proper 
dental 
treatment. 
~AL-~d~e~n~t~i~sut~~m~a~y __ ~a~l~s~o~, __ ~w~i~t~h~~t~h~e~~a~p~p~r~o~p~r~i~a~t~e 
permit issued by the board, q.dminister general anesthetics and 
conscious 
sedation. 
A 
dentist 
is 
authorized 
to 
take 
case 
histories and perform physical examinations to the extent the 
activities 
are 
necessary 
in 
the 
exercise 
of 
due 
care 
in 
conjunction 
with 
the 
provision 
of 
dental 
treatment 
or 
the 
administration of general or local anesthetics. A dentist is not 
permitted to perform physical examinations within 
a 
hospital 
licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services unless 
this activity is permitted by the hospital. 
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §1098. first 1\, as amended by PL 2003, c. 669, 
§8, is further amended to read: 
The board shall issue a license to practice as 
a dental 
hygienist 
in this 
State 
to 
an 
individual 
who 
has 
met 
the 
licensure requirements. 
The license must be exhibited publicly 
at the person's place of employment. 
The license authorizes 
practice as a dental hygienist in this State for the year in 
which it is issued until the expiration date that appears on the 
license. 
On or before January 1st of each odd-numbered year, the 
dental hygienist must pay to the board a license renewal fee of 
not more than $175 to be determined by the board eF--l-l-2--<rE--t:ae 
BieBBia±---~~~--~€€---i~--~~--app~i€aB~---a~~~~&--~~--aB 
eveB-BHffiBeFea--yeaF. 
Dental 
hygienists 
who 
have 
not 
paid 
as 
FFeviaea the 
renewal 
fee 
on 
or 
before 
January 1st must 
be 
reinstated upon payment of a late fee of not more than $50 to be 
determined by the board if paid before February 1st of the year 
in which license renewal is due. 
Failure to be properly licensed 
by February 1st results in automatic suspension of a license to 
practice dental hygiene. 
Reinstatement may be made, if approved 
by the board, by payment to the secretary-treasurer of the board 
of a fee determined by the board of not more than $175. 
A new 
applicant who has paid the application fee shall pay the biennial 
licensure fee if the applicant applies in an odd-numbered year or 
half the biennial licensure fee if the applicant applies in an 
even-numbered year. 
Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §1100-C. sub-§5. as enacted by PL 1995, c. 
590, §5, is repealed. 
Sec. 6. 32 MRSA §1l00-E. sub-§3, as amended by PL 
2003, c. 
669, §13, is further amended to read: 
3. 
Renewal; renewal fee. After a license has been issued 
under subsection 2, and on or before January 1st of odd-numbered 
years, a denturist must pay to the board a license renewal fee of 
not more than $175 to be determined by the board in order to 
renew the license and to continue to be authorized to practice as 
a denturist in the State eF--l-l-2---t:ae--b-i-ennJ-a-1--±ieeBsHFe--t-ee--it: 
aFF±ieat:ieB-is-ffiaae-iB-aB-eveB-BHffiBeFea-yeaF. 
After 
the 
requirements 
for 
a 
license 
renewal, 
including any 
necessary continuing education, have been met, a renewal card of 
the denturist's license must be issued, which the denturist shall 
place 
beside 
or 
attach 
to 
the 
denturist's 
initial 
license. 
Denturists who have not paid as-FF9viaea-sy the renewal fee on or 
befor~ January 1st must be reinstated upon payment of a late fee, 
to be determined by the board, of not more than $50 if paid by 
February 1st. 
A license to practice is automatically suspended 
on February 1st and may be reinstated, if approved by the board, 
on payment of a fee to be determined by the board of not more 
than $175. 
A new applicant who has paid the application fee 
shall pay the biennial licensure f~ if the applicant applies in 
an odd-numbered year or 1/2 the biennial licensure fee if the 
gpplicant applies in an even-numbered year. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides the Board of Dental Examiners with the 
authority to waive a 
telephone 
interview 
endorsement in cases 
deployment overseas. 
personal interview and, instead, conduct a 
for 
applicants 
seeking 
licensure 
by 
where the applicant is serving on military 
Current 
anesthetics. 
anesthetics 
the board. 
law 
allows 
dentists 
to 
administer 
general 
The bill allows dentists 
to administer general 
and conscious sedation only with a permit issued by 
The 
bill 
clarifies 
language 
concerning 
the 
payment 
of 
license renewal fees if an existing licensee applies late or if a 
new applicant applies for licensure in the 
2nd year of the 
biennial license period. 
Finally, the bill eliminates 
temporary denturist permits, 
which 
after January 1, 2000. 
outdated language 
the board ceased 
concerning 
to issue