(a) Subject to appropriation, the department shall pay for minimum treatment and for preventative and restorative adult dental services provided under AS 47.07.030(b) and under regulations adopted by the commissioner in conformity with applicable federal requirements and this chapter. Regulations adopted under this section must include the following:

(1) except as provided in (d) of this section, a maximum amount of benefits for preventative and restorative adult dental services of $1,150 for each eligible recipient in a fiscal year; and

(2) specification of the scope of coverage for preventative and restorative adult dental services.

(b) On or before June 30 of each year, the department shall review appropriations available for the purposes of this section for the following fiscal year, and estimate the scope of services to be used and the number of eligible recipients anticipated to be served during the following fiscal year. Notwithstanding the maximum amount of benefits specified in (a)(1) of this section, the department shall reduce, by regulation, the specified maximum amount of benefits for the following fiscal year if the department's estimates under this subsection would exceed appropriations available for that fiscal year.

(c) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of AS 44.62, the department may adopt emergency regulations to implement (b) of this section.

(d) If the department authorizes or approves payment for complete or partial dentures for an eligible recipient, the department may authorize the payment in one fiscal year of the maximum payment amount for not more than two fiscal years. A recipient is not eligible for additional benefits under this section for a two-year period.

(e) As used in this section, “minimum treatment” means the application or prescription of a medication or material deemed necessary by a licensed dentist for the immediate relief of pain or to reduce the spread of infection.