News & Current Issues in the Dental Professions

• Use of Internet Coupons (May 2012)
  In the case of coupons, including Internet coupons, licensed professionals who advertise these discounts should be cautious. Generally speaking, discounts cannot be limited to one segment of your practice without offering the same discount to the rest of your practice. Additionally, the fee you pay for these advertising services may constitute fee splitting. The offering of improper discounts and/or the improper sharing of professional fees may subject a licensee to charges of professional misconduct.
  
  There are several definitions of unprofessional conduct in Part 29 of the Rules of the Board of Regents which may be implicated by the use of coupons, including paragraphs 29.1(b)(2), (3), (4), and (12). The actual language of the Regents Rules is available at: http://www.op.nysed.gov/title8/part29.htm.
  
  
• Smoking Cessation Opinion (May 2012)
  In 1992, it was determined by the State Education Department that prescribing smoking cessation products was not in the scope of practice of dentistry, unless an oral condition necessitated such a prescription. More recently, the issue has again been raised by the New York State Department of Health and others involved in smoking cessation programs, and the State Education Department has been asked to review the question of the authority of dentists to issue such prescriptions.
  
  Since 1992, there have been two legislative changes relating to dentistry that support a change in the 1992 determination. Chapter 576 of the Laws of 2001 amended section 6601 of the Education Law to include within the scope of practice of dentistry "maintaining dental health." That same year, chapter 237 of the Laws of 2001 amended section 6604-a of the Education Law to require dentists to complete, as part of their continuing education requirement, "no less than two hours of coursework and training regarding the chemical and related effects [of] usage of tobacco and tobacco products and the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of the oral health effects, including but not limited to cancers and other diseases, caused by tobacco and tobacco products...." Based on these changes in law which include "maintaining dental health" in the scope of practice of dentistry and require continuing education in the adverse health effects of tobacco use, the Department has determined that prescribing smoking cessation products is currently within the scope of practice of dentistry.
  
  
• Registration Renewal Changes as of July 2010
  In our continued efforts to streamline the registration process we will be fully implementing Online Registration for dentists, dental hygienists and certified dental assistants by eliminating the mailing of paper registration renewal applications. As part of this process, beginning in July 2010 you will receive a one-page letter with all necessary information to renew your registration for your license online. The online process will provide a timely and secure alternative to paper registration applications. When registering online, the registration fees can be paid using a credit card, and no additional charge will be added for this convenience. If required, licensees may request a paper renewal application.
  
  
• 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 ( 30 KB) 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)