June 2025 New York Dental News: What It Means for Our East Flatbush Patients

The world of dentistry in New York has been busy this summer. New research, new regulations, and new fee rules are all taking shape—and many of them affect everyday patients right here in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.

At Hollywood Smile NY, we keep a close eye on these changes so we can give our patients safe, modern and affordable care. Here are the most important June 2025 dental updates and why they matter to you.

---

1. New York Updates Its Workers’ Compensation Dental Fee Schedule

On June 30, 2025, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board proposed updates to the Official New York Workers’ Compensation Dental Fee Schedule. 1

What this means in plain language:

• The state is revising what dentists can be reimbursed for treating job-related dental injuries.
• The goal is to modernize fees so they better reflect current treatment costs and codes.
• Public comments are being collected before the final rules are adopted. 2

Why it matters for East Flatbush patients

If you’ve had a work accident that damaged your teeth or jaw, your treatment may go through the workers’ compensation system. Updated fees can make it easier for dental offices across Brooklyn to provide the care you need without delays or confusion over what’s covered.

If you think you have a work-related dental injury, let our front desk know when you book—our team can help you understand your options and coordinate with your workers’ comp carrier.

---

2. Stronger Safety Rules for Dental X-rays in New York City

The NYC Health Department has adopted a new penalty schedule for radiation-control violations under Article 175 of the NYC Health Code. Fixed monetary fines for certain violations will apply to dental offices and other facilities that use X-ray equipment. 3

In short:

• The city is tightening enforcement around how X-ray machines are installed, maintained, and used.
• Practices that don’t follow safety and documentation rules can now face clearly defined fines.

What this means for our patients

For you as a patient, this is good news. It reinforces something we already take very seriously at Hollywood Smile NY:

• Using X-rays only when they are clinically necessary
• Keeping radiation exposure as low as reasonably possible
• Maintaining equipment and records to meet or exceed NYC standards

If you ever have questions about why an X-ray is recommended, our dentists are happy to explain the benefits and risks in detail.

---

3. New NYC Study: Simple School Treatments Stop Childhood Cavities

A major June 2025 study from NYU College of Dentistry looked at more than 1,600 New York City children and over 10,000 cavities treated right in their schools. 4

Researchers compared two simple approaches:

• Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) – a liquid painted onto decayed areas
• Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) – minimally invasive fillings done without drills

The results were impressive:

• SDF stopped about 62% of treated decayed surfaces from getting worse.
• ART prevented progression in about 55% of cases. 5

Why Brooklyn parents should care

For families in East Flatbush and the surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods:

• The study shows that early, simple, and affordable treatments can keep small cavities from turning into bigger, painful problems.
• It also underscores how important it is for kids to have regular checkups—even if their teeth “look fine” from the outside.

In our Brooklyn dental office, we use evidence-based preventive treatments like fluoride, sealants, and minimally invasive dentistry to help children avoid major procedures later.

If your child hasn’t had a dental visit in the last six months, this is a great time to schedule one.

---

4. Building the Future Dental Workforce in New York

New York’s dental schools are also growing to meet community needs. For example, Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine’s Class of 2028 recently welcomed 46 new students, most of them from New York State, with a focus on serving areas that lack enough dental professionals. 6

That’s encouraging news for neighborhoods like East Flatbush, where access to convenient, high-quality dental care is essential for long-term health.

---

The Bottom Line for Our East Flatbush Community

Whether it’s:

• updated fee schedules for work-related injuries,
• stricter city X-ray safety rules, or
• new research on preventing cavities in New York City children,

June 2025 has brought important developments to dentistry in our state.

At Hollywood Smile NY, your local dentist in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, we stay on top of these changes so you don’t have to. Our goal is simple: to give you and your family safe, modern, and personalized dental care—right here in the neighborhood.

Need an appointment or have questions about any of this news?
Call us or request a visit online today, and we’ll be happy to help.

Sources:
#1 NYS Workers Compensation Board
#2 Local: NY – New York County New York
#3 Local: NY – Second District New York
#4 New York University+2Contemporary Pediatrics
#5 Inside Dental Hygiene+1
#6 NYS Downtown Communities

General Dentistry Crown & Bridge Work Extractions Root Canal Implants Dentures

Total Family Dentistry Children Welcome Sealants to Prevent Cavities Fluoride Treatment to Strengthen Teeth Braces

Cosmetic Dentistry Tooth Whitening Mercury Free White Fillings to Match Natural Teeth Porcelain Veneers to Fix Crooked or Stained Teeth Crowns