§6600. Introduction.
This article applies to the professions of dentistry, dental hygiene, and registered dental assisting. The general provisions for all professions contained in article one hundred thirty of this title apply to this article.
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This article applies to the professions of dentistry, dental hygiene, and registered dental assisting. The general provisions for all professions contained in article one hundred thirty of this title apply to this article.
The practice of the profession of dentistry is defined as diagnosing, treating, operating, or prescribing for any disease, pain, injury, deformity, or physical condition of the oral and maxillofacial area related to restoring and maintaining dental health. The practice of dentistry includes the prescribing and fabrication of dental prostheses and appliances. The practice of dentistry may include performing physical evaluations in conjunction with the provision of dental treatment.
Only a person licensed or otherwise authorized to practice under this article shall practice dentistry or use the title "dentist".
A state board for dentistry shall be appointed by the board of regents on recommendation of the commissioner for the purpose of assisting the board of regents and the department on matters of professional licensing and professional conduct in accordance with section sixty-five hundred eight of this title. The board shall be composed of not less than thirteen dentists licensed in this state for at least five years, not less than three dental hygienists licensed in this state for at least five years, and not less than one registered dental assistant licensed in this state for at least one year. An executive secretary to the board shall be appointed by the board of regents on recommendation of the commissioner and shall be a dentist licensed in this state.
To qualify for a license as a dentist, an applicant shall fulfill the following requirements:
Only a person licensed under section sixty-six hundred nine of this article or exempt shall practice dental hygiene or use the title "dental hygienist".
The practice of registered dental assisting is defined as providing supportive services to a dentist in his or her performance of dental services authorized under this article. Such support shall include providing patient education, taking preliminary medical histories and vital signs to be reviewed by the dentist, placing and removing rubber dams, selecting and prefitting provisional crowns, selecting and prefitting orthodontic bands, removing orthodontic arch wires and ligature ties, placing and removing matrix bands, taking impressions for study casts or diagnostic casts, removing periodontal dressings, placing and removing temporary restorations, and such other dental supportive services authorized by the dentist consistent with regulations promulgated by the commissioner, provided that such functions are performed under the direct personal supervision of a licensed dentist in the course of the performance of dental services. Such services shall not include diagnosing and/or performing surgical procedures, irreversible procedures or procedures that would alter the hard or soft tissue of the oral and maxillofacial area or any other procedures determined by the department. The practice of registered dental assisting may be conducted in the office of any licensed dentist or in any appropriately equipped school or public institution but must be done under the direct personal supervision of a licensed dentist. Direct personal supervision, for purposes of this section, means supervision of dental procedures based on instructions given by a licensed dentist in the course of a procedure who remains in the dental office where the supportive services are being performed, personally diagnoses the condition to be treated, personally authorizes the procedures, and before dismissal of the patient, who remains the responsibility of the licensed dentist, evaluates the services performed by the registered dental assistant. Nothing herein authorizes a registered dental assistant to perform any of the services or functions defined as part of the practice of dental hygiene in accordance with the provisions of subdivision one of section sixty-six hundred six of this article, except those functions authorized pursuant to this section. All dental supportive services provided in this section may be performed by currently registered dental hygienists either under a dentist's supervision, as defined in regulations of the commissioner, or, in the case of a registered dental hygienist working for a hospital as defined in article twenty-eight of the public health law, pursuant to a collaborative arrangement with a licensed dentist in accordance with subdivision one of section sixty-six hundred six of this article. Such collaborative arrangement shall not obviate or supersede any law or regulation which requires identified services to be performed under the personal supervision of a dentist.
Only a person certified under section sixty-six hundred eight-b of this article or exempt pursuant to section sixty-six hundred ten of this article shall practice registered dental assisting. Only a person certified pursuant to section sixty-six hundred eight-b of this article shall use the title "registered dental assistant".
To qualify for certification as a registered dental assistant, an applicant shall fulfill the following requirements:
Nothing in this article shall be construed to affect or prevent a student from engaging in any procedure authorized under section sixty-six hundred eight of this article in clinical practice as part of a course of study approved by the department pursuant to subdivision four of section sixty-six hundred eight-b of this article.
The department shall issue a limited permit to an applicant who meets all requirements for admission to the licensing examination. All practice under a limited permit shall be under the direct personal supervision of a licensed dentist. Limited permits shall be for one year and may be renewed at the discretion of the department for one additional year. The fee for each limited permit and for each renewal shall be forty dollars.
To qualify for a license as a dental hygienist, an applicant shall fulfill the following requirements:
Nothing in this article shall be construed to affect or prevent:
Any machine used in a dental office for the administration of nitrous oxide to a patient shall be equipped with a scavenging system that appropriately minimizes leakage of nitrous oxide.