An Act To Increase Access to Dental Care in Rural Areas
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0937
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: McKANE, THOMAS, DOW, TRAHAN

Legislative Document 
No. 937 
H.P. 697 
House of Representatives, March 8, 2011 
An Act To Increase Access to Dental Care in Rural Areas 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative McKANE of Newcastle. 
Cosponsored by Senator THOMAS of Somerset and 
Representative: DOW of Waldoboro, Senator: TRAHAN of Lincoln. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA c. 16, sub-c. 3-C is enacted to read: 
SUBCHAPTER 3-C 
LIMITED PRACTICE DENTAL HYGIENIST 
§1094-U.  Limited practice dental hygienist 
The Board of Dental Examiners shall issue a limited practice dental hygienist license 
to an individual who meets licensure requirements established by the board. 
1.  Qualifications.  The board by rule shall establish licensure requirements for a 
limited practice dental hygienist license that include educational requirements that may 
be met through any course of study approved by the American Dental Association 
Commission on Dental Accreditation or its successor organization that: 
A.  Allows distance learning with instruction from qualified practitioners; 
B.  Includes nontraditional clinical instruction and clinical training as a dental 
assistant with a licensed dentist; and 
C.  Involves a number of credit hours equivalent to a 2-year full-time program. 
2.  Scope of license.  A limited practice dental hygienist license allows a person to 
provide nontherapeutic, limited preventative care, as established by the board by rule. 
3.  Fees; license.  An application for a limited practice dental hygienist license must 
be accompanied by a fee to be determined by the board not to exceed $175.  The board 
shall issue a license to practice as a limited practice 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 limited 
practice 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 
limited practice dental hygienist must pay to the board a license renewal fee of not more 
than $175, to be determined by the board. A limited practice dental hygienist who has not 
paid 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 limited practice dental hygienist license.  
Reinstatement may be made, if approved by the board, by payment to 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. 
An applicant for a duplicate license granted upon proof of loss of the original shall pay a 
fee of $15. 
4.  Rules.  Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as 
defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes a limited practice dental hygienist license that allows a person to 
provide nontherapeutic, limited preventative care.  Qualifications for this license may be 
met through any course of study approved by the American Dental Association 
Commission on Dental Accreditation or its successor organization that allows distance 
learning with instruction from qualified practitioners, includes nontraditional clinical 
instruction and clinical training as a dental assistant with a licensed dentist and involves a 
number of credit hours equivalent to a 2-year full-time program.