Maine Dental Career Center

All inquiries about licensure for dental hygienists should be directed to the Maine Board of Dental Practice. Determination of candidate eligibility will be at the sole discretion of the Maine Board of Dental Practice.

Independent Practice Authority

Dental hygienists in Maine can apply for a number of authorities including an independent practice authority which allows the dental hygienist to be reimbursed directly without billing through a dental office. Those dental hygienists with the independent practice authority may elect to create a mobile operation in which they provide care in multiple sites within the community, open a stationary office, or work for another entity where they will provide dental hygiene care without supervision of a dentist. An example of this may be working interprofessionally within the medical team in a primary care site that does not employ a dentist.

For more information on the scope of practice for a dental hygienist with independent practice authority, read the Maine revised statute.

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Public Health Dental Hygienist Authority

Another practice authority available to dental hygienists in Maine is public health dental hygienist. With public health dental hygienist authority, a dental hygienist can practice in a public health location. authority requires an agreement with a supervising dentist.

For more information on the scope of practice for a dental hygienist with public health supervision authority, read the Maine revised statute.

Authorities can be applied for on the Maine Board of Dental practice website using this online portal.

To learn more about the Qualifications for Dental Hygienist Practice Authorities from the Maine Board of Dental Practice Rules, download the qualifications from maine.gov.