Requirements for Licensure as a Denturist

The Department of Professional and Financial Regulation for the Maine Board of Dental Examiners establishes the following requirements for licensure as a denturist in the State of Maine:

To be eligible for licensure, applicants for a license to practice denturism in this category shall meet the following requirements:

  • Examination. In order to qualify to take the denturist examination pursuant to 32 M.R.S.A. §1100-D, an applicant must:
    • Be a high school graduate or have obtained high school equivalency;
    • Have a diploma from a post-secondary denturism educational institution which meets all of the following criteria:
      • It meets or exceeds the International Federation of Denturists baseline competencies;
      • It has been reviewed and recommended for approval by the denturist subcommittee; and
      • It has been approved by the Maine Board of Dental Examiners.
    • Denturist examinations will be available at least yearly by a reputable testing body approved and recommended by the denturist subcommittee. The Maine Board of Dental Examiners may change the examining body from time to time as necessary with the approval and recommendation of the denturist subcommittee.
    • Have successfully completed with a passing grade of 90 percent, the jurisprudence examination given by the Board; and
    • Provide the Board or Subcommittee with documentary proof of current certification in CPR.
    • For any applicant who graduated from an approved post-secondary denturism educational institution more than one year prior to application for licensure in Maine, have successfully completed a personal interview before the Subcommittee. The personal interview may be waived at the Subcommittee’s discretion; however, the applicant shall still submit to an interview by other means as determined by the Subcommittee or the Board.
  • Board-Approved Upgrade Curriculum. Pursuant to 32 M.R.S.A. §1100-E(2) (PL 2009, c. 227 as amended) denturists licensed in this State prior to October 1, 2009, who do not have a diploma from a Board-approved denturism post-secondary institution shall, within two (2) years following the adoption of this specific provision:
    • Provide documented proof to the satisfaction of the Board of successful completion of a comprehensive course or training (i.e. a semester-long course or its equivalent) that was completed prior to October 1, 2009, in each of the following areas: Radiographic Pattern Recognition; Periodontology; and Partial Denture Design and Application; and
    • Provide the Board with documentary proof of successful completion of an upgrade course in each of the following areas from a Board-approved institution, entity, or individual:
      • An eight (8) hour review course in Radiographic Pattern Recognition;
      • An eight (8) hour review course in Periodontology; and
      • A twenty-four (24) hour review course in Partial Denture Design and Application.
    • Pursuant to 32 M.R.S.A. §1100-E(2) (PL 2009, c. 227 as amended) denturists licensed in this State prior to October 1, 2009, who do not have a diploma from a Board-approved denturism postsecondary institution and who do not comply with this provision within two (2) years following the adoption of this specific provision shall be ineligible for licensure or re-licensure.

To be eligible for licensure, applicants for a license to practice denturism in this category shall meet the following requirements:

  • Have a diploma from a post-secondary denturism educational institution which meets all of the following criteria:
    • It meets or exceeds the International Federation of Denturists baseline competencies;
    • It has been reviewed and recommended for approval by the denturist subcommittee, and;
    • It has been approved by the Maine Board of Dental Examiners.
  • Furnish proof that the candidate has successfully completed an examination that has been reviewed and approved by the denturist subcommittee and the Board;
  • Furnish proof, satisfactory to the Board, that the candidate has been duly licensed to practice denturism in another U.S. state or Canadian province after full compliance with the requirement of its laws;
  • Have engaged in the active clinical practice of denturism in another U.S. state or Canadian province for a minimum of three years prior to application;
  • Furnish the Board or Subcommittee, upon request, letters of reference about the denturist applicant;
  • Provide the Board or Subcommittee with documentary proof of current certification in CPR; and
  • Have successfully completed with a passing grade of 90 percent, the jurisprudence examination given by the Board; and
  • Have successfully completed an interview with the Subcommittee on Denturists.

Individuals who are issued faculty licenses by the Board are limited to practice only within the dental, dental hygiene, or denturism school setting, including any satellite locations approved by the Board. To qualify for licensure in this category, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Provide the Board with an original letter of recommendation from an employing school of dentistry, dental hygiene, or denturism stating why the Board should consider the applicant to be qualified under criteria established by these rules;
  • Provide the Board with documentary proof of the following credentials:
    • Degrees/Certificates awarded (including dates); and
    • Previous employment experience relevant to the subject to be taught (including dates).
  • Submit a completed application and fee; and
  • Provide the Board with letters of good standing from any state or Canadian province where the applicant holds or has ever held a license, and demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board, full compliance with the requirements of that other jurisdiction’s dental laws.

The Board or Subcommittee may at its discretion waive an interview for reinstatement of a license to practice denturism if it has been two (2) years or less since the lapse of licensure.

Temporary licenses issued pursuant to this rule are valid for six (6) months from the date of issuance, and may be renewed one (1) time for an additional six (6) months if the applicant meets all of the requirements of this rule. To qualify for a temporary license pursuant to Title 10 §8003 (5)(G), the applicant must:

  • Provide the Board with documentary proof of current, valid and unrestricted licensure in another state;
  • Submit a completed Board-approved application and fee; and
  • Successfully pass with a grade of 90 the Board’s jurisprudence examination.

Either the Board or the Board President acting on behalf of the Board may waive the requirements of (1) and (3) above for good cause.

Temporary permits issued pursuant to this section of the rule are valid for no more than one year (from the date of issuance), and may be renewed one-time only as long as the applicant meets the requirements of this section of the rule. To qualify for a temporary permit issued pursuant to this section and 32 M.R.S.A. §1100-E-2, the applicant must provide the Board with:

  • The original signed request from the Externship Director, including a current curriculum vitae for the Director and a description of the externship program, including:
    • Its anticipated duration;
    • The anticipated clinical procedures that will be performed by the denturist extern(s) that demonstrates the following:
      • Type and level of supervision and control of the services to be performed by the student are adequate, and
      • Performance of the services by the student adds to the student’s knowledge and skill in the practice of denturism;
  • The completed Board-approved application and fee, to include the name(s) of the Maine licensed dentist(s), Maine licensed denturist(s) or individual representing the instructional facility who will be supervising the externship;
  • Documentation from the applicant’s denturist school showing the student’s academic affiliation, good academic standing, and readiness to participate in an externship; and
  • Documentation regarding the applicant’s academic and clinical experience.

If an applicant has not been in active practice within the preceding five years, he/she must meet all of the requirements for initial licensure as outlined in the section above; and have successfully completed an interview with the Subcommittee on Denturists.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:
32 M.R.S.A. §§ 1073(2), 1078, 1100-A, 1100-C, 1100-D, 1100-E
EFFECTIVE DATE:
May 22, 2007 – filing 2007-196
AMENDED:
February 11, 2009 – filing 2009-57
June 27, 2010 – filing 2010-258
September 9, 2012 – filing 2012-249
December 15, 2015 – filing 2015-244

How to Apply

Terms

  • Date of issue through December 31st even years

Requirements

  • A completed application for licensure and payment of the fee (payment may be made in the form of a check or money order payable to “Treasurer, State of Maine,” VISA or MasterCard – see credit card authorization form);
  • Verification of denturism education; and
  • Documentation of successful passage of the required examination(s).

Endorsement

  • If you are currently licensed in another state or jurisdiction and are applying for licensure in Maine, you must submit all of the required documentation (as listed above) including information identified in the application instructions.

Renewal Information

Terms

  • Renews biennially on December 31st even years.

Late Renewal

  • Licenses can be renewed up to 90 days after the date of expiration with payment of a late fee in addition to the renewal fee.

Reinstatement

  • Licenses cannot be renewed beyond 90 days. A separate Reinstatement application must be filed, along with payment of the required fees.