Code of Maine Rules
02 - DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION
313 - BOARD OF DENTAL PRACTICE
Chapter 12 - PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS
Section 313-12-V - SPECIFIC PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS - REFERRAL NETWORK

A. A licensee who provides patient care shall have in place a referral network to handle patient conditions outside of their scope of practice, training, or level of expertise.

B. Referrals shall be made in writing and clearly identify the condition(s) that prompted the referral. The licensee accepting the referral is obligated to use his or her level of training to complete the assessment, diagnosing, and treatment planning for referred patients.

C. Once referred treatment is completed, ethical standards require that the patient is returned to the referring licensee. Patients, however, retain the right to choose their dental provider as long as such provider is willing and able to accept them in their practice.

D. A denturist must immediately refer to a licensed dentist or physician any abnormality or disease process that requires medical or dental treatment observed during oral inspection. In such a case, the denturist shall take no further action to manufacture or place a denture if it may impact the successful outcome of the treatment until the patient has been examined by a dentist or physician. If the examination reveals the need for tissue modification or opposing natural tooth modification in order to assure proper fit of a full denture, the denturist shall refer the patient to a dentist and assure that the modification has been completed before taking an impression for the completion of the denture.