AUGUSTA - Last week, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law legislation sponsored by Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio, D-Sanford, that will modernize Maine's dental care workforce by amending the scope of practice for dental hygienists and dental therapists.
"By passing this law and aligning the duties and responsibilities of Maine dental hygienists and dental therapists with the national academic and examination competency standards, we are helping to address the urgent dental care crisis facing our state," said Mastraccio. "Responsibly expanding the duties of these other oral care practitioners will allow us to dramatically increase the number of patients that can be served in Maine, reducing instances of acute and life-altering dental disease."
LD 1581 gives dental hygienists broader authority to diagnose and treat certain oral health problems, removes general supervision from their scope of practice and aligns the scope of practice for dental hygienists, public health dental hygienists and dental therapists. The new law also permits public health dental hygienists to perform certain procedures under the general supervision of a dentist rather than only when authorized by a written practice agreement.
The new law will go into effect 90 days after final adjournment of the legislative session.
Mastraccio is serving her fifth non-consecutive term in the Maine House of Representatives and is a member of the Legislature's Government Oversight Committee and the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee. She represents House District 142, which includes a portion of Sanford and Springvale.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Mastraccio], c. 305-965-2744