State of Maine Board of Dental Examiners 143 State House Station • 161 Capitol Street • Augusta, ME 04333-0143 Phone: 207-287-3333 • Fax: 207-287-8140

         

    Recent legislation has created a new category of hygiene licensure which will be available for application after July 18, 2008.  An Independent Practice Dental Hygienist (IPDH) may practice without supervision by a dentist to the extent allowed; an IPDH may perform duties under the supervision of a dentist. A Registered Dental Hygienist license (RDH) issued by the Maine Board of Dental Examiners (MBDE) automatically expires upon issuance of an IPDH license to the same person.  Please Note:  An IPDH who holds a Local Anesthesia and/or Nitrous Oxide permit may only administer  local anesthesia or nitrous under the direct supervision of a dentist. 

 

          MISPRINT IN DENTAL PRACTICE ACT, CHAPTER 6

    Our newest printing of the Dental Practice Act (Date of Printing May 22, 2007)contains an error in Chapter 6: Rules for Approved Radiation Barriers. It states that an "American Dental Association (ADA) approved radiation barrier" must be placed over the patient before taking x-rays. The verbiage referencing the ADA was inadvertently placed in the statement and needs to be removed. The ADA does not approve radiation barriers. Dental offices should continue to use traditional lead aprons, with a cervical collar when appropriate or other suitable x-ray protection.  They are compliant with Board rules as long as they are using a standard, traditional lead apron or other radiation barrier with the appropriate lead equivalency. 

 

    The new Online Change of Contact Information application is now in production.  Check it out at https://www.pfr.maine.gov/ALMSOnline/ALMSChangeContact/Welcome.aspx or by going to our Links section. Information on how this works can be found on our Contact Page.

 

    Recent legislation concerning Practice Ownership of a deceased or incapacitated dentist has been added to our Maine Statutes & Rules Sections. 

 

    Directions to the Board offices have been added to our home page; the link below the map will allow you to go to Map Quest; this will enable you to map directions from your location to ours.  

 

    CPR certification or recertification is required for all new licensees (Dentists, Denturists, Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDA’s), Hygienists, and Radiographers), as well as the renewal of those same licenses. It is the Boards intention that CPR be maintained continuously.  

 

          SCAM ALERT ! ! !

    The Board of Dental Examiners recently became aware of a potential scam hitting the dental community in the State of Maine. Several dentists received telephone calls from heavily accented individuals trying to obtain further information from the office staff in their practices; one individual tried to obtain the dentists home telephone number. Some of the calls are regarding home-study courses that they offer. Another caller actually offered to renew a dentist's license at a fee lower than the State level. These individuals are aware of the dentists' license numbers and the expiration dates of their licenses.

           

            Please be aware that ONLY the Board of Dental Examiners has the right, and is obligated to authorize licenses and/or

 permits.  If you have any questions about the legitimacy of these telephone calls, please contact the Board office at

 207-287-3333