PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘An Act To Amend the Laws Concerning Independent Practice Dental Hygienists’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1094-Q, sub-§1, ¶N, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 620, Pt. B, §1, is amended to read:
 
N. Place temporary restorations in compliance with the protocol adopted by the board; and
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §1094-Q, sub-§1, ¶O, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 620, Pt. B, §1, is amended to read:
 
O. Apply topical antimicrobials, excluding antibiotics, including fluoride, for the purposes of bacterial reduction, caries control and desensitization in the oral cavity. The independent practice dental hygienist shall follow current manufacturer's instructions in the use of these medicaments.; and
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §1094-Q, sub-§1, ¶P  is enacted to read:
 
P.  Expose and process radiographs upon written standing prescription orders from a dentist who will be available to interpret all dental radiographs within 21 days and who completes and signs a radiographic review and findings form.
Sec. 4. Report on the use of radiographs by independent practice dental hygienists. By March 1, 2010, the Board of Dental Examiners under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 1072, with assistance from licensed independent practice dental hygienists, shall provide a report summarizing the number of patients and children that have received radiographs from licensed independent practice dental hygienists pursuant to written standing prescription orders from dentists, and the number of patients requiring referral to a dentist, to the Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development. The Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development is authorized to submit legislation on this topic to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment is the minority report of the committee. It replaces the bill and expands the diagnostic functions of an independent practice dental hygienist by allowing an independent practice dental hygienist to perform x rays upon written standing prescription orders from a dentist who will be available to interpret all dental radiographs within 21 days and who completes and signs a radiographic review and findings form. It also requires the Board of Dental Examiners, with assistance from licensed independent practice dental hygienists, to provide a report by March 1, 2010 summarizing the number of patients and children that have received radiographs from licensed independent practice dental hygienists pursuant to a written standing prescription orders from dentists, as well as the number of patients requiring referral to a dentist, to the Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development. It authorizes the Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development to submit legislation on this topic to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.