An Act to Expand Access to Oral Health Care in Rural Maine by Allowing Certain Out-of-state Dentists to Practice in Dental Clinics in the State
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0876
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: GROHOSKI
Amends: 32 MRSA §18302, 32 MRSA §18342

Legislative Document
No. 876
S.P. 373
In Senate, February 24, 2023
An Act to Expand Access to Oral Health Care in Rural Maine by 
Allowing Certain Out-of-state Dentists to Practice in Dental Clinics 
in the State
Reference to the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and 
Business suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator GROHOSKI of Hancock.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §18302, sub-§5-A is enacted to read:
5-A.  Dental clinic dentist license.  "Dental clinic dentist license" means a license that 
grants the authority to an individual to provide dental care at a dental clinic within the State 
when dental services from a resident dentist are not available.
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §18342, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:
3-A.  Dental clinic dentist license.  An applicant for a dental clinic dentist license must 
comply with section 18341 and must provide:
A.  Verification that the applicant has an active dentist license in good standing issued 
under the laws of another state, a Canadian province or a foreign country; and
B.  Verification that the purpose of the license is to offer dental care at a dental clinic 
located in this State when dental services from a resident dentist are not available.
Sec. 3. Board of Dental Practice to review options for dental clinic license 
for dental professionals other than dentists. The Board of Dental Practice, as 
established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-A, subsection 10, in 
conjunction with the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, shall review 
options for establishing a limited license to authorize dental professionals other than 
dentists credentialed under the laws of another state, a Canadian province or a foreign 
country to practice in the State for the purpose of providing services in dental clinics when 
services from resident licensed dental professionals are not available. The board shall report 
its findings and recommendations, including any suggested legislation, related to the 
establishment of a limited license for this purpose to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services no later than January 15, 2024. The 
Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services may 
report out a bill based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.
SUMMARY
This bill provides for a limited license for a dentist credentialed under the laws of 
another state, a Canadian province or a foreign country to be licensed to practice in Maine 
for the purposes of providing services in dental clinics when dental services from licensed 
resident dentists are not available. The bill also directs the Board of Dental Practice, in 
conjunction with the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, to review 
options for a similar limited license for dental professionals other than dentists credentialed 
under the laws of another state, a Canadian province or a foreign country and to report their 
findings and recommendations to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.