Maine legislators are considering two bills aimed at increasing dental care accessibility, The Maine Monitor reported Feb. 26.
Seven notes:
1. Access to dental care in the state has declined as the workforce shrinks: The number of dentists dropped from 590 in 2019 to 530 in 2023, while the number of hygienists declined from 1,040 in 2019 to 840 in 2023, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2. LD 2206 would establish an associate dentist license, allowing a dentist without the equivalent of a U.S. doctoral degree to practice under the supervision of a licensed dentist.
3. Associate dentists would be able to obtain full licensure if they remain in good standing for six consecutive years.
4. LD 2209 would require the state health department to consider how to establish residency programs for specialists, including pediatric dentists, oral surgeons and orthodontists.
5. LD 2209 would also require the health department to study ways to create a hub-and-spoke model to expand access to services in the state.
6. Several dentists and other stakeholders have testified against LD 2206, arguing that the bill could lead rural residents to receive care from dentists with less training.
7. The Maine Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services committee will discuss the bills further during upcoming work sessions.
