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 independent practice authority, local anesthesia authority, and nitrous oxide authority. While all dental hygienist in Maine can practice a majority of the dental hygiene scope without supervision of a dentist, only those dental hygienists who hold both independent practice authority and local anesthesia & nitrous oxide authorities can administer local anesthesia and nitrous oxide without dentist supervision.

Independent practice dental hygienists operate mobile clinics in which they provide care in multiple sites within the community, practice in stationary offices, or a combination of both. An example of a practice opportunity for independent practice dental hygienists may be working interprofessionally within the medical team in a primary care site to incorporate oral health into overall health and patient wellbeing.

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