An Act to Reduce Dental Disease and Ensure Access to Essential
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1746
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: GRAMLICH, INGWERSEN, FECTEAU
Amends: 22 MRSA §3174-S

Legislative Document
No. 1746
H.P. 1164
House of Representatives, April 22, 2025
An Act to Reduce Dental Disease and Ensure Access to Essential 
Preventive Dental Care Among Maine Children
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach.
Cosponsored by Senator INGWERSEN of York and
Representatives: CLOUTIER of Lewiston, DAIGLE of Fort Kent, DUCHARME of Madison, 
Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, GATTINE of Westbrook, MASTRACCIO of Sanford, 
MEYER of Eliot, Senator: MOORE of Washington.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3174-S, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 635, Pt. AAA, 
§1, is amended to read:
2-A.  School-based preventive oral health services.  By January 1, 2025 2027, the 
department shall provide preventive oral health services through the Maine Center for 
Disease Control and Prevention in all public schools in the State.  The department shall 
establish public-private partnerships between state agencies or public schools and private 
corporations, individuals or organizations to allow mobile dental services providers to offer 
additional preventive oral health and disease intervention services in public schools.
Sec. 2.  Mobile dental services providers in public health districts.  The 
Department of Health and Human Services shall establish a model to provide for a mobile 
dental services provider in each public health district as described in the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 22, section 411, subsection 5, based on the Cumberland County School Oral 
Health Project.  The department shall establish public-private partnerships between the 
department or school districts and private corporations, individuals or organizations to 
initially set up mobile dental services providers with equipment, supplies, logistics and 
methods of operation.  The department shall provide for, at least every school year in a 
different public health district, at least one mobile dental services provider until each 
district has at least one mobile dental services provider.
Sec. 3.  Department of Health and Human Services to provide training and 
education to primary care providers.  The oral health program within the Department 
of Health and Human Services shall provide training and education to primary care 
providers on minimally invasive dental disease treatment for infants and small children.  
The department shall use guidance from the From the First Tooth program or its successor 
program and the American Academy of Pediatrics to encourage the use of silver diamine 
fluoride by pediatricians in primary care settings to reduce dental disease and prevent 
cavities.
Sec. 4.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention 0143
Initiative: Continues and makes permanent one Public Health Educator III position and one 
Planning and Research Associate I position previously continued by Financial Order 
CV0733 F5 to support oral health services provided in public schools in the State and 
provides funding for related All Other costs.
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND
2025-26
2026-27
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
2.000
2.000
Personal Services
$189,534
$198,024
All Other
$19,280
$19,478
__________
__________
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL
$208,814
$217,502
SUMMARY
This bill does the following.
1.  It delays the requirement for oral health services to be available in all schools from 
January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2027 and clarifies that the requirement applies only to public 
schools.
2.  It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop public-private 
partnerships to establish a model to provide for mobile dental services providers to provide 
additional preventive oral health and disease intervention services in schools based on the 
model in the Cumberland County School Oral Health Project.  It requires the department 
to provide for at least one mobile dental services provider in each public health district per 
school year.
3.  It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide training and 
education to primary care providers on minimally invasive dental disease treatment for 
infants and small children using guidance from the From the First Tooth program or its 
successor program and the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Pediatricians are encouraged 
to use silver diamine fluoride in primary care settings to reduce dental disease and prevent 
cavities.  
4.  It makes permanent 2 previously established limited positions related to provided 
oral health services in public schools within the Department of Health and Human Services, 
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.