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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1746H.P. 1164House of Representatives, April 22, 2025
An Act to Reduce Dental Disease and Ensure Access to Essential
Preventive Dental Care Among Maine Children
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach.
Cosponsored by Senator INGWERSEN of York and
Representatives: CLOUTIER of Lewiston, DAIGLE of Fort Kent, DUCHARME of Madison,
Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, GATTINE of Westbrook, MASTRACCIO of Sanford,
MEYER of Eliot, Senator: MOORE of Washington. Page 1 - 132LR1212(01)
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2 as enacted by PL 2021, c. 635, Pt. AAA,
3 ยง1, is amended to read:
4 2027, the
5 department shall provide preventive oral health services through the Maine Center for
6 Disease Control and Prevention in all public schools in the State. The department shall
7 establish public-private partnerships between state agencies or public schools and private
8 corporations, individuals or organizations to allow mobile dental services providers to offer
9 additional preventive oral health and disease intervention services in public schools.
10 The
11 Department of Health and Human Services shall establish a model to provide for a mobile
12 dental services provider in each public health district as described in the Maine Revised
13 Statutes, Title 22, section 411, subsection 5, based on the Cumberland County School Oral
14 Health Project. The department shall establish public-private partnerships between the
15 department or school districts and private corporations, individuals or organizations to
16 initially set up mobile dental services providers with equipment, supplies, logistics and
17 methods of operation. The department shall provide for, at least every school year in a
18 different public health district, at least one mobile dental services provider until each
19 district has at least one mobile dental services provider.
20
21
22 of Health and Human Services shall provide training and education to primary care
23 providers on minimally invasive dental disease treatment for infants and small children.
24 The department shall use guidance from the From the First Tooth program or its successor
25 program and the American Academy of Pediatrics to encourage the use of silver diamine
26 fluoride by pediatricians in primary care settings to reduce dental disease and prevent
27 cavities.
28 The following appropriations and
29 allocations are made.
30
31
32 Initiative: Continues and makes permanent one Public Health Educator III position and one
33 Planning and Research Associate I position previously continued by Financial Order
34 CV0733 F5 to support oral health services provided in public schools in the State and
35 provides funding for related All Other costs.
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND 2025-26 2026-27POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 2.000 2.000Personal Services $189,534 $198,024All Other $19,280 $19,478
____________________
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL
$208,814 $217,502
363738394041 Page 2 - 132LR1212(01)
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2 This bill does the following.
3 1. It delays the requirement for oral health services to be available in all schools from
4 January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2027 and clarifies that the requirement applies only to public
5 schools.
6 2. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop public-private
7 partnerships to establish a model to provide for mobile dental services providers to provide
8 additional preventive oral health and disease intervention services in schools based on the
9 model in the Cumberland County School Oral Health Project. It requires the department
10 to provide for at least one mobile dental services provider in each public health district per
11 school year.
12 3. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide training and
13 education to primary care providers on minimally invasive dental disease treatment for
14 infants and small children using guidance from the From the First Tooth program or its
15 successor program and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatricians are encouraged
16 to use silver diamine fluoride in primary care settings to reduce dental disease and prevent
17 cavities.
18 4. It makes permanent 2 previously established limited positions related to provided
19 oral health services in public schools within the Department of Health and Human Services,
20 Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
12