New York Consolidated Laws, Education Law - EDN § 6606. Definition of practice of dental hygiene

1. The practice of the profession of dental hygiene is defined as the performance of dental services which shall include removing calcareous deposits, accretions and stains from the exposed surfaces of the teeth which begin at the epithelial attachment and applying topical agents indicated for a complete dental prophylaxis, removing cement, placing or removing rubber dam, removing sutures, placing matrix band, providing patient education, applying topical medication, placing and exposing diagnostic dental X-ray films, performing topical fluoride applications and topical anesthetic applications, polishing teeth, taking medical history, charting caries, taking impressions for study casts, placing and removing temporary restorations, administering and monitoring nitrous oxide analgesia and administering and monitoring local infiltration anesthesia, subject to certification in accordance with section sixty-six hundred five-b of this article, and any other function in the definition of the practice of dentistry as may be delegated by a licensed dentist in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner.  The practice of dental hygiene may be conducted in the office of any licensed dentist or in any appropriately equipped school or public institution but must be done either under the supervision of a licensed dentist 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 and registered dentist who has a formal relationship with the same hospital in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department in consultation with the department of health.  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.  When dental hygiene services are provided pursuant to a collaborative agreement, such dental hygienist shall instruct individuals to visit a licensed dentist for comprehensive examination or treatment.

2. The commissioner shall promulgate regulations defining the functions a dental hygienist may perform that are consistent with the training and qualifications for a license as a dental hygienist.