Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Maine means applying through the Maine Board of Dental Practice, completing primary source verification of your credentials, and then enrolling with payers so you can bill. Here's how it works — and how Rivon handles Maine licensing and credentialing for you.
Official ME boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Maine Board of Dental Practice websiteHow to get licensed in Maine
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, exam results (INBDE + a clinical exam), current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Maine Board of Dental Practice, with all fees and supporting documents.
- 03Primary source verification — the board confirms your education, training, licensure, certification, and background (including the NPDB) directly with each source.
- 04Board review and issuance — once the file is complete and verified, Maine issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Maine Board of Dental Practice
The ME board sets Maine's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$850
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Maine Board of Dental Practice. Amounts vary by license type and change over time.
Typical timeline
~45 days
From a complete file to issuance — driven mostly by how fast primary sources respond. A clean, error-free application is the best way to stay near the low end.
Free ME checklist
Get the complete Maine dentist licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Maine dental license
Once you're licensed, the Maine Board of Dental Practice requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Deadline
- Biennial license term runs January 1 of even-numbered years to December 31 of odd-numbered years; renew on or before expiration (renewal opens about 60 days before, e.g. October 31 for a December 31 expiration)
- Renewal fee
- $750 (2-year dentist license, initial and renewal) (late fee: $100 late renewal fee within 90 days of expiration (plus renewal fee); between 91 days and 2 years requires reinstatement at initial fees)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 40 credit hours per biennial license term plus current BLS certification
- 3 hours on prescribing opioid medication (as a condition of prescribing opioids)
- 6 hours in sedation/anesthesia, physical diagnosis, complications and techniques (sedation permit holders)
- How to renew
- Online only through the Maine.gov licensing renewal system (no phone renewal); license is emailed once approvedOpen the renewal portal
- NoteCurrent BLS certification required at renewal (max 3 BLS / 6 ACLS-PALS hours count toward CE; online-only courses not accepted)
- NoteFirst renewal: half the CE hours (20) plus BLS, including the opioid and sedation hours if applicable
- NoteSedation/general anesthesia permits renew separately ($750 per 2 years; $100 late fee)
- NoteCE is certified at renewal (not submitted); keep documentation 2 years post-renewal for random audit
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Maine Board of Dental Practice. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesMaine Board of Dental Practice - Licensing FAQs02-313 Ch. 13 Continuing Education (Jul 2025)02-313 Ch. 7 Establishment of Fees02-313 Ch. 11 Renewal, Late Renewal and Reinstatement
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Maine renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Maine
A Maine license lets you practice; credentialing lets you get paid. Before a health plan will reimburse you, it verifies your license, training, and history. Here's what that usually involves:
- 01Keep your NPI record (NPPES) current — your name, practice address, and taxonomy code should match your Maine license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Maine license and other documents, attest, and authorize each plan to view it. Re-attest every 120 days.
- 03Apply to each dental plan (and any medical plan you'll bill) that you want to join in Maine. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Maine Medicaid (and any Medicaid managed-care plans you'll work with).
- 05If you'll bill Medicare, enroll through PECOS.
- 06If you'll work in a hospital or surgery center, apply for privileges there — each facility credentials you separately.
New to CAQH? Read our CAQH ProView guide for setup, your CAQH ID, and re-attestation.
How Rivon handles Maine licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Maine license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Maine Board of Dental Practice. Document AI reads each credential and fills the profile without retyping, and licensing & credentialing pipelines run primary source verification and payer enrollment in parallel.
Prefer to hand it off? Rivon's white-glove team manages the entire Maine application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Maine dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Maine?
Most Maine dentist applications take about 45 days once the Maine Board of Dental Practice has a complete file, though timelines vary with how quickly primary sources (schools, prior boards, the NPDB) respond. Submitting a complete, error-free application is the single biggest way to avoid delays.
Which board licenses dentists in Maine?
Dentists in Maine are licensed by the Maine Board of Dental Practice, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Maine dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Maine dentist application fee is around $850. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Maine Board of Dental Practice before you apply.
How do I renew my Maine dental license?
In Maine, renewals are filed with the Maine Board of Dental Practice. How to renew: Online only through the Maine.gov licensing renewal system (no phone renewal); license is emailed once approved. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Biennial license term runs January 1 of even-numbered years to December 31 of odd-numbered years; renew on or before expiration (renewal opens about 60 days before, e.g. October 31 for a December 31 expiration). Renewal fee: $750 (2-year dentist license, initial and renewal) (late fee: $100 late renewal fee within 90 days of expiration (plus renewal fee); between 91 days and 2 years requires reinstatement at initial fees). Continuing education: 40 credit hours per biennial license term plus current BLS certification. Required topics include 3 hours on prescribing opioid medication (as a condition of prescribing opioids); 6 hours in sedation/anesthesia, physical diagnosis, complications and techniques (sedation permit holders). This is as published by the board (last verified October 3, 2026); confirm before renewing. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How many CE hours do I need to renew a dental license in Maine?
40 CE hours. The Maine Board of Dental Practice publishes the requirement as: 40 credit hours per biennial license term plus current BLS certification. Required topics include 3 hours on prescribing opioid medication (as a condition of prescribing opioids); 6 hours in sedation/anesthesia, physical diagnosis, complications and techniques (sedation permit holders). Last verified October 3, 2026; confirm with the board before renewing. Rivon tracks your CE hours against the requirement so you're not caught short.
How do I look up or verify a Maine dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Maine Board of Dental Practice's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Maine?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Maine that usually means an up-to-date NPI record, a complete and attested CAQH ProView profile, an application to each plan you want to join, and — if you'll bill them — Maine Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Maine license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Maine — including by telehealth — you typically need a Maine license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Maine dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Maine license and renewal with always-on monitoring and run credentialing with primary source verification. Or hand it to Rivon's white-glove team, which manages the Maine application and payer enrollment end to end.