Dentistry

News & Current Issues in the Dental Professions

• Dental Residency Programs
  On September 16, 2009, Governor Paterson signed legislation, effective on January 1, 2010, which provides that individuals who meet the education requirement for a dental license and who are employed in an approved residency program are not required to obtain a limited permit in order to practice within the confines of that residency program. The law requires residents to register with the Department and pay a reasonable registration fee, not to exceed that currently charged for a limited permit. This law also provides that individuals may take the mandatory ethics and jurisprudence course during the period of their dental residency.
  
  
• Restricted Dental Faculty License
  Effective February 1, 2009, the Department may issue a restricted dental faculty license to a full-time faculty member employed at an approved New York State school of dentistry. Licensure requirements and application forms (PDF) for this new license have been posted.
  
  
• School Dental Health Certificates
  Effective on September 1, 2008, all schools will be required to request that students complete a dental health certificate. Please see the certificate form (PDF) and Questions and Answers for information about this new program.
  
  
• Continuing Education in Ethics and Jurisprudence: During the next registration period beginning on or after January 1, 2008, each dentist who is required to complete continuing education must, on a one-time basis, complete a three-hour course in New York State jurisprudence and ethics. At this time, the Department has approved courses to be offered by the New York State Dental Foundation, the Henry Spenadel Continuing Education Program of the First District Dental Society, University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. Those organizations should be contacted directly for details on the course offering.
  
  
• Important Information About Mandatory Continuing Education for Dentists Including Changes to Minimum Requirements and Mandated Courses (April 2008)
  
  
• Continuing Education Changes - Chapter 183, Laws of 2007(July 2007)
  
  
• Scope of Practice for New York State Licensed Certified Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists
  Recent changes to section 6608 of Education Law and sections 52.26, 61.9 and 61.13 of the Commissioner's Regulations have changed the scope of practice for New York State licensed certified dental assistants and dental hygienists.
  
  The Department is currently developing a questions and answers guide to help clarify the changes. Please keep checking this site for additional information.(June 2007)
  
  
• Residency Program Requirement for Dental Licensure in New York State (July 2005)
  
  
• Restricted Certificate to Administer and Monitor Local Infiltration Anesthesia and Nitrous Oxide Analgesia (August 2003)
  
  
• Nitrous Oxide Equipment Requirement (August 2003)
  
  
• Scope of Practice Changes for Certified Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists (July 2003)
  
  
• Law Requires Dentists to Collect and Recycle all Mercury and Amalgam Waste (March 2003)