An Act To Increase Access to Certain Dental Services
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1461
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: FAIRCLOTH
Amends: 32 MRSA §1100-A

Legislative Document 
No. 1461 
H.P.1023 
House of Representatives, March 23,2005 
An Act To Increase Access to Certain Dental Services 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative FAIRCLOTH of Bangor. 
Printed on recycled paper 
'/JJ~/J1.~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA c. 16. sub-c. 3-A is enacted to read: 
.sUBCHAPTER 3 -A 
EXPANDED FUNCTION DENTAL ASSISTANT 
§I094-D. 
Definitions 
As 
used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise 
i.ngicates, 
"expanded 
function 
dental 
assistant" 
means 
an 
individual who holds a current valid certification under this 
subchapter to perform reversible 
i_lltraor~ocedures authorized 
by this subchapter under the direct supervision of a licensed 
dentist and under an assignment of duties by a dentist. 
Such 
procedures include, but are not limited to, placing and removing 
rubber 
dams 
and 
matrices; 
placing 
and 
contouring 
amalgam, 
composite 
and other restorative materials; 
applying sealants; 
supra gingival polishing; 
and other reversible procedures not 
designated by this 
ch~ter to 
be performed only by licensed 
dentists or dental hygienists. 
§I094-E. 
Procedures not authorized 
An expanded function dental assistant may not perform the 
following procedures: 
1. 
Examinatiol!" 
di~~Q~j,s and trea.tment planning. 
Complete 
or limited examination, diagnosis or treatment planning; 
2. 
Surg~~~Q~C~~ti~9L-P~9Cedure.~s~. __ ~S~u~r~g~~~·c~a~1 __ yo~r __ ~c~u~t~t~i~n~g 
procedures of hard or soft tissue; 
3. 
Prescribing drugs. 
Prescribing drugs, 
medicaments or 
work authorizations; 
4. 
Performing 
pul-IL---C_~pping. 
Performing 
pulp 
capping, 
pUlpotomy or other endodontic procedures; 
5. 
Placement 
and 
Placement 
and 
intraoral 
prosthetic appliances; or 
adj~~.~en~t~~o~f __ ~p~r~o~s~th~~e~t~i~c~~appli~c~~~ 
adjustments 
of 
fixed 
or 
removable 
6. 
Admj,p.i.s.t_:r_atJon 
of 
!Ut~sthesia 
or 
seQat.iQI!,,-
Administration of 
local 
anesthesia, 
parenteral 
or 
inhalation 
sedation or general anesthesia. 
§I094-F. 
Supervision 
Page l-LR1806(1) 
An expanded function dental assistant shall perform under 
the direct supervision of a dentist. 
As used in this section, 
"direct supervision" means that a dentist is in the dental office 
or treatment facility, personally diagnoses the condition to be 
treated, personally authorizes the condition to be treated and 
remains in the dental office or treatment facility while the 
procedure is being performed by the expanded function dental 
assistant and, before dismissal of the patient. evaluates the 
work performed by the expanded function dental assistant. 
§I094-G. 
Qualifications 
The 
board 
may 
certify 
as 
an 
expanded 
function 
dental 
assistant a person IS years of age or older who: 
1. 
Holds 
certified 
dental 
assistant 
certificate 
or 
registered dental hygiene license and has completed training. 
Holds 
a current certified dental assistant certification or a 
current registered dental hygienist license and has successfully 
completed training in a school or program approved by the board; 
or 
2. 
Is 
credentialed by 
another 
state or province. 
Is 
credentialed to perform as an expanded function dental assistant 
by another state or Canadian province, the standards of which are 
acceptable to the board. 
The board may 
adopt routine technical rules pursuant to 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to implement this section. 
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §1100-A, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. 
A, §S7, is further amended to read: 
§IIOO-A. Definition 
and 
Duties of dental 
expanded 
function 
auxiliaries other 
dental assistants 
than dental hygienists 
must 
be 
defined and 
governed by the rules of the Board of Dental Examiners. Dental 
auxiliaries include, but are not limited to, dental hygienists, 
dental assistants, 
expanded function dental assistants, dental 
laboratory technicians and denturists. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes a new category of dental assistant, 
"expanded function dental assistant," with authority to perform 
certain 
reversible 
intraoral 
procedures 
under 
the 
direct 
supervision of and assignment of duties by a licensed dentist. 
A 
certified dental 
assistant 
or 
a 
licensed 
registered 
dental 
hygienist may qualify for certification as an expanded function 
dental assistant by successfully completing training in a school 
or program approved by the Board of Dental Examiners.