An Act To Improve Access to Dental Hygiene by Authorizing Dental Hygienists To Perform Dental Hygiene Diagnosis
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1457
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: GROHOSKI, BROOKS, CRAVEN, WHITE
Amends: 32 MRSA §18302, 32 MRSA §18374, 32 MRSA §18375, 32 MRSA §18376

Legislative Document
No. 1457
H.P. 1073
House of Representatives, April 12, 2021
An Act To Improve Access to Dental Hygiene by Authorizing Dental 
Hygienists To Perform Dental Hygiene Diagnosis
Received by the Clerk of the House on April 8, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on Health 
Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GROHOSKI of Ellsworth.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BROOKS of Lewiston, CRAVEN of Lewiston, WHITE of 
Waterville.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §18302, sub-§6-A is enacted to read:
6-A.  Dental hygiene diagnosis.  "Dental hygiene diagnosis" means the identification 
of an existing oral health problem that a dental hygienist is qualified and licensed to treat.
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §18374, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 429, §21, is 
repealed.
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §18374, sub-§2, ¶TT, as amended by PL 2017, c. 388, §19, is 
further amended to read:
TT.  Smooth and polish amalgam restorations; and
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §18374, sub-§2, ¶VV, as amended by PL 2017, c. 388, §19, is 
further amended to read:
VV.  Obtain impressions for study casts, athletic mouth guards, custom trays, bleaching 
trays, fluoride trays, opposing models, retainers and stents.;
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §18374, sub-§2, ¶ZZ is enacted to read:
ZZ.  Perform dental hygiene diagnoses; and
Sec. 6.  32 MRSA §18374, sub-§2, ¶AAA is enacted to read:
AAA.  Administer local anesthesia or nitrous oxide analgesia, as long as the dental 
hygienist or faculty dental hygienist has authority to administer the relevant medication 
pursuant to section 18345, subsection 2, paragraph D or E.
Sec. 7.  32 MRSA §18375, sub-§1, ¶P, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 429, §21, is 
amended to read:
P.  Expose and process radiographs, including but not limited to vertical and horizontal 
bitewing films, periapical films, panoramic images and full-mouth series, under 
protocols developed by the board as long as the independent practice dental hygienist 
has a written agreement with a licensed dentist that provides that the dentist is available 
to interpret all dental radiographs within 21 days from the date the radiograph is taken 
and that the dentist will sign a radiographic review and findings form; and
Sec. 8.  32 MRSA §18375, sub-§1, ¶Q, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 429, §21, is 
amended to read:
Q.  Prescribe, dispense or administer anticavity toothpastes or topical gels with 1.1% 
or less sodium fluoride and oral rinses with 0.05%, 0.2%, 0.44% or 0.5% sodium 
fluoride, as well as chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse. For the purposes of this 
paragraph, "topical" includes superficial and intraoral application.; and
Sec. 9.  32 MRSA §18375, sub-§1, ¶R is enacted to read:
R.  Perform dental hygiene diagnoses.
Sec. 10.  32 MRSA §18376, sub-§1, ¶FF, as amended by PL 2017, c. 388, §23, is 
further amended to read:
FF.  Obtain impressions for and deliver athletic mouth guards and custom fluoride 
trays; and
Sec. 11.  32 MRSA §18376, sub-§1, ¶GG, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 429, §21, is 
amended to read:
GG.  Take intraoral photographs.; and
Sec. 12.  32 MRSA §18376, sub-§1, ¶HH is enacted to read:
HH.  Perform dental hygiene diagnoses.
SUMMARY
This bill adds dental hygiene diagnosis to the procedures a dental hygienist, an 
independent practice dental hygienist and a public health dental hygienist may perform 
under the general supervision of a dentist.  The bill also authorizes a dental hygienist to 
administer local anesthesia or nitrous oxide analgesia under the general supervision of a 
dentist instead of under the direct supervision of a dentist.