Maine Tackles Dentist Shortage with New Licensing Pathway for International Professionals
AUGUSTA, Maine – A growing nationwide shortage of dentists is acutely felt in Maine, leaving residents with limited access to crucial dental care.This summer,state lawmakers took action,passing legislation designed to streamline the licensing process for qualified dentists – particularly those trained internationally – and bolster the state’s dental workforce.
The core of the new law centers around the creation of an “adjunct dentist license.” This pathway allows dentists who may not meet all traditional american educational requirements – a common hurdle for internationally-trained professionals - to practice under the supervision of a fully licensed Maine dentist. A formal, written agreement will govern this supervised practice.
“We’re finding difficulty in recruiting,” explains Danica Loring, of Penobscot County Health Care.”Partially,it’s challenging finding people with ties to Maine who want to be here for the long term.”
Loring, who also serves on a committee established by the new law, highlighted the increasing number of applicants PCHC receives from abroad. “They may not have an undergraduate degree, going directly into dental school after secondary education,” she noted, a common educational pathway in many countries.
The new law isn’t simply a temporary fix. After three years of practicing in good standing under an adjunct license, dentists will be eligible for full licensure in Maine. Lawmakers and healthcare providers alike hope this will considerably expand the pool of potential candidates and accelerate the filling of critical dental care gaps.
“We have been trying to recruit the best providers,irrespective of where they were educated,” Loring stated. “Knowing our staffing and candidate pools are limited, we’ve become more focused on engaging with foreign-trained dentists – they are the applicants we are seeing.”
A commission tasked with overseeing the implementation of the new law held it’s inaugural meeting this week and is expected to deliver a extensive report by the end of the year. The hope is that this proactive measure will ensure Mainers have access to the dental care they need, now and in the future.
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