On December 19, 2025, Governor Hochul signed A02341/S3157 expanding collaborative practice for dental hygienists in New York. Effective June 19, 2027, the legislation amends N.Y. Educ. Law § 6606 to permit registered dental hygienists (RDH) in collaborative practice (CP), to provide designated dental hygiene services in authorized settings without onsite supervision, pursuant to a written collaborative practice agreement with a licensed dentist.
Who may enter into a collaborative practice agreement
To be eligible, a dental hygienist must be approved by the Department as a RDH-CP, pay the required fee, document at least 3 years of practice experience totaling a minimum of 4,500 hours, and complete an 8‑hour continuing-education program covering medical emergency procedures, risk management, dental hygiene jurisprudence, and professional ethics.
An RDH-CP may have only one collaborative practice agreement in effect at a time, while a dentist may enter into up to 6 collaborative practice agreements simultaneously. The Department of Education, however, may grant case-by-case exceptions to these limits in public health settings.
Requirements for the collaborative practice agreement
The amended statute sets forth specific requirements for a compliant collaborative practice agreement including that it:
- be signed and maintained by the dentist, the dental hygienist, and the authorized setting;
- be reviewed annually by the dentist and dental hygienist;
- include consideration for medically compromised patients, specific medical conditions, and age- and procedure‑specific practice protocols, including recommended intervals for dental hygiene services and the periodicity for examinations by a dentist; and
- be available to the Department and other interested parties upon request.
However, both the existing and amended statutes make clear that collaborative practice agreements may not override any existing requirement that specified services be performed under a dentist’s personal supervision.
Authorized settings for unsupervised services
Once effective, dental hygienists may provide services under collaborative practice without onsite supervision only in designated settings, including:
- Article 28 licensed hospitals,
- appropriately equipped schools,
- federally qualified health centers,
- long-term care facilities,
- group homes serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,
- facilities serving veterans,
- temporary housing facilities,
- prisons,
- drug treatment facilities,
- domestic violence shelters, and
- appropriate settings for homebound residents who cannot be relocated for necessary treatment.
Patient notice and referral process
Lastly, before providing services under a collaborative practice agreement, the amended statute requires the RDH-CP to give the patient a written statement advising them that the dental hygiene services provided are not a substitute for a dental examination by a licensed dentist. If the RDH-CP then refers a patient for further procedures, they must complete a referral form and provide a copy to the collaborating dentist.
Dental practices, dental hygienists, and authorized settings interested in collaborative practice should assess eligibility, update policies and procedures, and prepare compliant agreements ahead of the June 19, 2027, effective date.