South Dakota Dentist Jurisprudence
Exam — 100-Question Advanced
Practice Exam 2026 | Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam Prep & Study Guide
1. Which entity has primary authority to establish standards for the safe and
qualified practice of dentistry in South Dakota?
A. South Dakota Department of Labor
B. South Dakota Legislature alone
C. State Board of Dentistry
D. Local dental societies
Answer: State Board of Dentistry
Rationale: The Board is authorized to establish standards for and promote the
safe and qualified practice of dentistry and to enforce the dentistry chapter.
2. An applicant for a South Dakota dental license has graduated from an
accredited dental school and passed the national examination but has not
passed an examination concerning South Dakota dental laws and rules.
What is the best conclusion?
,A. The applicant automatically qualifies for licensure
B. The applicant may practice under direct supervision
C. The applicant has not satisfied all statutory licensure criteria
D. The applicant only needs to complete continuing education
Answer: The applicant has not satisfied all statutory licensure criteria
Rationale: South Dakota requires an applicant to pass an examination
concerning state laws and rules relating to dentistry in addition to other
licensing requirements.
3. Which examination requirement applies to an applicant seeking a South
Dakota dental license?
A. Only a state jurisprudence examination
B. A standardized national comprehensive examination approved by the Board
C. Only an ethics examination administered by a dental school
D. A local county examination
Answer: A standardized national comprehensive examination approved by the
Board
Rationale: SDCL 36-6A-44 specifically identifies passage of a standardized
national comprehensive examination approved by the Board as a licensing
criterion.
4. An applicant passed a clinical regional examination seven years before
applying for a South Dakota dental license. Which statement is most
accurate?
A. The examination automatically satisfies the statutory timing requirement
B. The applicant must retake the national comprehensive examination only
C. The applicant may not satisfy the five-year clinical examination requirement
using that examination
D. The applicant is exempt because the examination was regional
,Answer: The applicant may not satisfy the five-year clinical examination
requirement using that examination
Rationale: South Dakota requires passage, within five years preceding
application, of an approved clinical regional or national examination or an
equivalent state examination.
5. Which educational credential is specifically identified in South Dakota's
general dental licensure criteria?
A. Any bachelor's degree
B. A degree from any foreign dental school without additional requirements
C. A DMD or DDS from an ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited
United States dental school
D. A dental assisting certificate
Answer: A DMD or DDS from an ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation-
accredited United States dental school
Rationale: SDCL 36-6A-44 specifies graduation from an ADA Commission on
Dental Accreditation-accredited United States dental school with a DMD or DDS
degree.
6. Which activity falls within the exclusive responsibility of a dentist?
A. Scheduling routine appointments
B. Diagnosis and treatment planning of oral conditions
C. Taking a patient's insurance card
D. Collecting a copayment
Answer: Diagnosis and treatment planning of oral conditions
Rationale: South Dakota reserves diagnosis and treatment planning of
conditions within the oral cavity and adjacent structures to dentists.
7. A registered dental assistant independently establishes the final treatment
plan for a patient. What is the primary jurisprudence concern?
, A. The assistant has exceeded authorized duties
B. The assistant may do so if the patient consents
C. The assistant may do so if the dentist signs the chart later
D. The assistant may do so after one year of employment
Answer: The assistant has exceeded authorized duties
Rationale: South Dakota rules identify establishing a final diagnosis or
treatment plan as a procedure that may not be delegated to a registered dental
assistant.
8. Which statement best describes a dentist's responsibility for delegated
services?
A. The dentist is responsible only for services personally performed
B. The dentist is responsible for the acts of dental hygienists and auxiliaries while
assisting in dental practice
C. The hygienist assumes all responsibility after delegation
D. Responsibility transfers to the patient after informed consent
Answer: The dentist is responsible for the acts of dental hygienists and
auxiliaries while assisting in dental practice
Rationale: SDCL 36-6A-41 makes the dentist responsible for the acts of dental
hygienists and dental auxiliaries engaged in assistance.
9. A dentist delegates a procedure to an auxiliary that the dentist is not legally
authorized to delegate. Which statement is correct?
A. Delegation is valid if the auxiliary has performed it elsewhere
B. Delegation is valid if the patient agrees
C. The dentist may not authorize the procedure
D. Delegation is valid if the auxiliary carries malpractice insurance
Answer: The dentist may not authorize the procedure
Rationale: A dentist must permit only acts that the dentist is authorized under
South Dakota law to delegate.
Exam — 100-Question Advanced
Practice Exam 2026 | Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam Prep & Study Guide
1. Which entity has primary authority to establish standards for the safe and
qualified practice of dentistry in South Dakota?
A. South Dakota Department of Labor
B. South Dakota Legislature alone
C. State Board of Dentistry
D. Local dental societies
Answer: State Board of Dentistry
Rationale: The Board is authorized to establish standards for and promote the
safe and qualified practice of dentistry and to enforce the dentistry chapter.
2. An applicant for a South Dakota dental license has graduated from an
accredited dental school and passed the national examination but has not
passed an examination concerning South Dakota dental laws and rules.
What is the best conclusion?
,A. The applicant automatically qualifies for licensure
B. The applicant may practice under direct supervision
C. The applicant has not satisfied all statutory licensure criteria
D. The applicant only needs to complete continuing education
Answer: The applicant has not satisfied all statutory licensure criteria
Rationale: South Dakota requires an applicant to pass an examination
concerning state laws and rules relating to dentistry in addition to other
licensing requirements.
3. Which examination requirement applies to an applicant seeking a South
Dakota dental license?
A. Only a state jurisprudence examination
B. A standardized national comprehensive examination approved by the Board
C. Only an ethics examination administered by a dental school
D. A local county examination
Answer: A standardized national comprehensive examination approved by the
Board
Rationale: SDCL 36-6A-44 specifically identifies passage of a standardized
national comprehensive examination approved by the Board as a licensing
criterion.
4. An applicant passed a clinical regional examination seven years before
applying for a South Dakota dental license. Which statement is most
accurate?
A. The examination automatically satisfies the statutory timing requirement
B. The applicant must retake the national comprehensive examination only
C. The applicant may not satisfy the five-year clinical examination requirement
using that examination
D. The applicant is exempt because the examination was regional
,Answer: The applicant may not satisfy the five-year clinical examination
requirement using that examination
Rationale: South Dakota requires passage, within five years preceding
application, of an approved clinical regional or national examination or an
equivalent state examination.
5. Which educational credential is specifically identified in South Dakota's
general dental licensure criteria?
A. Any bachelor's degree
B. A degree from any foreign dental school without additional requirements
C. A DMD or DDS from an ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited
United States dental school
D. A dental assisting certificate
Answer: A DMD or DDS from an ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation-
accredited United States dental school
Rationale: SDCL 36-6A-44 specifies graduation from an ADA Commission on
Dental Accreditation-accredited United States dental school with a DMD or DDS
degree.
6. Which activity falls within the exclusive responsibility of a dentist?
A. Scheduling routine appointments
B. Diagnosis and treatment planning of oral conditions
C. Taking a patient's insurance card
D. Collecting a copayment
Answer: Diagnosis and treatment planning of oral conditions
Rationale: South Dakota reserves diagnosis and treatment planning of
conditions within the oral cavity and adjacent structures to dentists.
7. A registered dental assistant independently establishes the final treatment
plan for a patient. What is the primary jurisprudence concern?
, A. The assistant has exceeded authorized duties
B. The assistant may do so if the patient consents
C. The assistant may do so if the dentist signs the chart later
D. The assistant may do so after one year of employment
Answer: The assistant has exceeded authorized duties
Rationale: South Dakota rules identify establishing a final diagnosis or
treatment plan as a procedure that may not be delegated to a registered dental
assistant.
8. Which statement best describes a dentist's responsibility for delegated
services?
A. The dentist is responsible only for services personally performed
B. The dentist is responsible for the acts of dental hygienists and auxiliaries while
assisting in dental practice
C. The hygienist assumes all responsibility after delegation
D. Responsibility transfers to the patient after informed consent
Answer: The dentist is responsible for the acts of dental hygienists and
auxiliaries while assisting in dental practice
Rationale: SDCL 36-6A-41 makes the dentist responsible for the acts of dental
hygienists and dental auxiliaries engaged in assistance.
9. A dentist delegates a procedure to an auxiliary that the dentist is not legally
authorized to delegate. Which statement is correct?
A. Delegation is valid if the auxiliary has performed it elsewhere
B. Delegation is valid if the patient agrees
C. The dentist may not authorize the procedure
D. Delegation is valid if the auxiliary carries malpractice insurance
Answer: The dentist may not authorize the procedure
Rationale: A dentist must permit only acts that the dentist is authorized under
South Dakota law to delegate.
