Sanborn bill to improve children’s dental health receives unanimous support in Maine Senate

AUGUSTA— On Tuesday, a bill from Sen. Heather Sanborn, D-Portland, received unanimous approval in the Maine Senate. LD 1975, “An Act to Facilitate Dental Treatment for Children,” would prohibit insurance plans from implementing waiting periods before they will cover the treatment of tooth decay in children.

“Children should never be forced to wait for dental care or put off a needed procedure,” said Sen. Sanborn. “This is critical because their teeth are especially susceptible to decay that can progress at a rapid rate. I’m glad my colleagues in the Senate agree that these waiting periods only compromise the dental health of Maine children and must be eliminated.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 5 children age 5 to 11, and 1 in 7 children age 12 to 19 have at least one untreated, decayed tooth.

If passed into law, LD 1975 would be the first legislation in the country to prohibit these waiting periods for children. 

The bill now faces further votes in the Maine House and Senate.

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