New York Dental Office News Magazine
From updated fee schedules to tougher X-ray rules and new research on kids’ cavities, June 2025 was a busy month for dentistry in New York. Here’s a concise look at what changed — and why it matters to patients and providers across NYC and the state.
1. New York Moves to Update Its Workers’ Compensation Dental Fee Schedule
On June 30, 2025, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board proposed amendments to Section 444.2 of Title 12 NYCRR to update the Official New York Workers’ Compensation Dental Fee Schedule.
Key points:
- The proposal modernizes the dental fee schedule used in workers’ compensation cases.
- The goal is to bring fees in line with current CDT codes and today’s treatment costs. NYS Workers Compensation Board+1
- A formal Notice of Proposed Rule Making was scheduled for the July 2, 2025 State Register, with a 60-day public comment period. State: NY – New York+1
Why it matters in New York
For patients who suffer work-related dental injuries (for example, jaw trauma or fractured teeth on the job), treatment is often billed through workers’ comp. An updated fee schedule can:
- Reduce disputes over reimbursement
- Encourage more providers to accept these cases
- Help injured workers get needed treatment more quickly
Sources:
- NYS Dental Association – “WCB Proposes Dental Fee Schedule Amendments” (June 30, 2025) State: NY – New York
- NY Workers’ Compensation Board – Proposed 2025 Dental Fee Schedule PDF NYS Workers Compensation Board
- NY Regs – Official NY Workers’ Compensation Dental Fee Schedule Rule Text Westlaw Government
2. NYC Tightens Penalties for Radiation / Dental X-ray Violations
In 2025, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene amended its citywide penalty schedule to add fixed penalties for violations of several Health Code articles — including Article 175 (Radiation Control), which governs dental X-ray and CBCT use.
Highlights:
- The penalties create standardized fines for radiation-related violations, aiming for more consistent enforcement.
- A compliance alert from local dental societies notes that these changes explicitly apply to NYC dentists who use dental X-ray and CBCT equipment.
For patients, this means:
- Stronger oversight of how dental radiography equipment is installed, maintained, and monitored
- Additional pressure on practices to follow ALARA principles (keeping radiation “as low as reasonably achievable”)
Sources:
- NYC Rules – “Amendment of Penalty Schedule for Violations of Certain Provisions of Health Code…” (March 10, 2025) NYC Rules
- NYC DOHMH – Penalty Schedule Notice PDF (Feb 2025) New York City Government
- Second District Dental Society – Compliance Alert on NYC Radiation Violation Fines (April 11, 2025) Local: NY – Second District New York
- NYC Health Code Article 175 – Radiation Control (official PDF) New York City Government
3. NYU Study: School-Based Treatments Help Stop Kids’ Cavities
A June 9, 2025 news release from NYU College of Dentistry highlighted new data from a large school-based cavity trial in New York City. The study showed that two simple cavity treatments, delivered right in schools, can stop most lesions from progressing for years. New York University
The treatments compared:
- Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) – a topical liquid brushed onto decayed areas; kills bacteria and promotes remineralization. PMC
- Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) – minimally invasive restorations using hand instruments and glass-ionomer materials, often without a drill. Inside Dental Hygiene
Key findings reported:
- Both approaches prevented most cavities from getting worse, with SDF performing slightly better overall in long-term control of decay in children. New York University
For New York parents and school systems, this reinforces that:
- Bringing basic dental care into schools can significantly cut down on untreated decay.
- Low-cost, low-tech interventions like SDF and ART are powerful tools in public-health dentistry, especially in underserved neighborhoods.
Sources:
- NYU – “School Dental Treatments Stop Kids’ Tooth Decay in Its Tracks” (June 9, 2025) New York University
- Contemporary Pediatrics – “Study: School-based treatments stop cavity progression in NYC children” (June 24, 2025) Contemporary Pediatrics
- Ruff RR et al. – Comparative SDF vs ART trial (Scientific Reports, 2025) Nature
- Inside Dental Hygiene – School-Based Dental Treatments Summary Inside Dental Hygiene
4. Stony Brook Welcomes the Dental Class of 2028
On Long Island, Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine marked an important milestone for the future New York dental workforce. In 2025, the school’s Class of 2028 — 46 first-year students — took part in its White Coat Ceremony and pledged a commitment to patient well-being and ethical care.
Many of these students are New York residents and are expected to help address dentist shortages in underserved communities once they complete training.
Sources:
- Stony Brook SDM – “Class of 2028 Pledges Commitment to Patient Well-Being at White Coat Ceremony” Stony Brook Dental Medicine+1
- Stony Brook Dental Medicine – Class of 2028 Social Post Instagram
Takeaway for NY Dental Readers
- Policy & regulation: New workers’ comp dental fees and fixed NYC radiation penalties are reshaping how practices bill and how they handle X-rays.
- Public health & research: School-based care and simple topical treatments are proving highly effective for New York City children.
- Workforce: New cohorts of NY-trained dentists are entering the pipeline, with a stated focus on patient care and access.
For BigNY.com – NY Dental News, these June 2025 developments show a clear trend: New York is tightening standards, updating outdated systems, and investing in research and training that can directly improve oral health outcomes for millions of residents.
