28 May 2025

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NYSDA Applauds SUNY Reconnect Inclusion

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The New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) today hailed the inclusion of dental hygiene programs in the new SUNY Reconnect program, saying it will help address a severe dental hygienist shortage across New York.

“Our organization worked long and hard to make sure SUNY’s six community college dental hygiene programs were included as part of Reconnect,” said NYSDA President Prabha Krishnan, DDS. “More hygienists on the dental team will help extend dental access to more patients who need care, including those in underserved areas.”

The SUNY Reconnect program was supported by NYSDA and made possible through funding allocated in the New York State Budget — a major legislative achievement aimed at strengthening New York’s workforce through affordable education pathways.

“By including dental hygiene programs in SUNY Reconnect, we will go a long way to extending the dental network to help treat our rural residents, as well as the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and low-income communities. These populations often face significant barriers to accessing dental care, and while the initiative isn’t limited to any specific geographic requirement, more dental team members should help alleviate dental care shortages in these areas,” Dr. Krishnan added.

Announced by SUNY last week, Reconnect will cover tuition and other costs at SUNY community colleges for adults aged 25–55 who currently do not have a college degree. Adults who can enroll as early as this coming fall must major in a field where the state has identified a need for more workers.

Dental hygiene is one of those fields included as part of Reconnect. SUNY offers six dental hygiene programs across its community colleges, including those at Erie, Farmingdale, Hudson Valley, Monroe, Orange, and SUNY Broome.

“Thanks to the efforts of NYSDA volunteers and others around the state, adult students can now pursue the degree at no cost,” Dr. Krishnan added. “And most importantly, as these students move through the pipeline to graduation, New Yorkers who need care will be able to access it.”

About the New York State Dental Association

The New York State Dental Association, founded in 1868, is one of the largest state constituents of the American Dental Association and represents more than 60 percent of dentists practicing in New York State. Founded in 1859, the American Dental Association is the oldest and largest national dental society in the world and serves as the leading source of oral health-related information for dentists and their patients.

Source: https://www.nysdental.org