IOWA DENTAL BOARD JURISPRUDENCE EXAM COMPLETE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE
1. Under the Iowa Dental Practice Act, what is the primary statutory
basis for defining the practice of dentistry?
A. Iowa Code Chapter 147
B. Iowa Code Chapter 153
C. Iowa Administrative Code 650
D. Iowa Code Chapter 272C
Correct Answer: B – The practice of dentistry is defined in Iowa Code
Chapter 153, which serves as the Dental Practice Act. This chapter
establishes the legal framework for licensure, scope of practice, and
regulation of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants.
2. Which of the following individuals is exempt from licensure under
Iowa law when practicing dentistry?
A. A dentist licensed in Nebraska who routinely treats Iowa patients
without an Iowa license
B. A licensed physician extracting teeth as an incident to the general
practice of their profession
C. A dental assistant performing coronal polishing without supervision
D. A retired dentist whose license has lapsed performing pro bono
services
Correct Answer: B – Iowa Code 153.14 exempts licensed physicians
and osteopathic physicians who extract teeth or treat oral diseases as
an incident to the general practice of their profession, provided they
remain within the scope of their medical license.
,3. A licensed dental hygienist in Iowa may perform which of the
following services without the supervision of a licensed dentist?
A. Complete oral prophylaxis
B. Administration of local anesthesia
C. Educational services assessing oral health education needs
D. Exposure and processing of radiographs
Correct Answer: C – Iowa Code 153.15 specifies that educational
services are the only services a dental hygienist may perform without
dentist supervision. These are limited to assessing needs for, planning,
implementing, and evaluating oral health education programs for
individual patients and community groups.
4. What is the primary purpose of the Iowa Dental Board?
A. To establish fee schedules for dental procedures
B. To protect the public health, safety, and welfare through regulation of
dental practice
C. To promote the economic interests of licensed dentists
D. To serve as a labor union for dental professionals
Correct Answer: B – The Iowa Dental Board’s primary function is to
protect the public by regulating the practice of dentistry, dental
hygiene, and dental assisting. It does this through licensing,
establishing standards, investigating complaints, and enforcing the
law, not through setting fees or promoting professional interests .
5. How many members serve on the Iowa Dental Board?
A. 7 members
B. 8 members
,C. 9 members
D. 10 members
Correct Answer: C – The Iowa Dental Board is composed of nine
members: five licensed dentists, two licensed dental hygienists, and
two public members . All members are appointed by the Governor
and confirmed by the Iowa Senate.
6. What is the composition of the Dental Hygiene Committee?
A. Three dentists and two hygienists
B. Two hygienists and one dentist
C. One hygienist and two dentists
D. Four hygienists and one public member
Correct Answer: B – The Dental Hygiene Committee consists of three
members: the two dental hygienist members of the board and one
dentist member who has supervised and worked in collaboration with
a dental hygienist for at least three years . This committee makes
recommendations to the Board regarding dental hygiene practice,
discipline, and education.
7. Under what circumstances may the Iowa Dental Board decline to
ratify a recommendation of the Dental Hygiene Committee?
A. If the recommendation is not supported by the record
B. If the Board simply disagrees with the recommendation
C. If the recommendation is made during a closed session
D. If the recommendation requires public comment
Correct Answer: A – The Board must ratify committee
recommendations unless it makes a specific finding that the
recommendation exceeds the committee’s jurisdiction, expands its
, scope beyond statutory authority, creates an undue financial impact
on the Board, or is not supported by the record .
8. A dentist licensed in Iowa is applying for license renewal. According
to the Iowa Administrative Code 650-13.2, how many continuing
education hours must be completed during the current biennium
renewal period?
A. 15 hours
B. 30 hours
C. 45 hours
D. 60 hours
Correct Answer: B – Iowa Administrative Code 650-25.2(1) mandates
that a licensed dentist must complete a minimum of 30 hours of
continuing education during each two-year renewal cycle. This
requirement ensures that practitioners remain current with advances
in dental science, patient safety protocols, and changes in state law .
9. A registered dental assistant in Iowa must complete how many
hours of continuing education per biennium to renew registration?
A. 10 hours
B. 15 hours
C. 20 hours
D. 25 hours
Correct Answer: C – Registered dental assistants must complete a
minimum of 20 hours of board-approved continuing education during
each biennium renewal period. This is less than the 30 hours required
for dentists and dental hygienists due to the limited scope of practice .
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE
1. Under the Iowa Dental Practice Act, what is the primary statutory
basis for defining the practice of dentistry?
A. Iowa Code Chapter 147
B. Iowa Code Chapter 153
C. Iowa Administrative Code 650
D. Iowa Code Chapter 272C
Correct Answer: B – The practice of dentistry is defined in Iowa Code
Chapter 153, which serves as the Dental Practice Act. This chapter
establishes the legal framework for licensure, scope of practice, and
regulation of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants.
2. Which of the following individuals is exempt from licensure under
Iowa law when practicing dentistry?
A. A dentist licensed in Nebraska who routinely treats Iowa patients
without an Iowa license
B. A licensed physician extracting teeth as an incident to the general
practice of their profession
C. A dental assistant performing coronal polishing without supervision
D. A retired dentist whose license has lapsed performing pro bono
services
Correct Answer: B – Iowa Code 153.14 exempts licensed physicians
and osteopathic physicians who extract teeth or treat oral diseases as
an incident to the general practice of their profession, provided they
remain within the scope of their medical license.
,3. A licensed dental hygienist in Iowa may perform which of the
following services without the supervision of a licensed dentist?
A. Complete oral prophylaxis
B. Administration of local anesthesia
C. Educational services assessing oral health education needs
D. Exposure and processing of radiographs
Correct Answer: C – Iowa Code 153.15 specifies that educational
services are the only services a dental hygienist may perform without
dentist supervision. These are limited to assessing needs for, planning,
implementing, and evaluating oral health education programs for
individual patients and community groups.
4. What is the primary purpose of the Iowa Dental Board?
A. To establish fee schedules for dental procedures
B. To protect the public health, safety, and welfare through regulation of
dental practice
C. To promote the economic interests of licensed dentists
D. To serve as a labor union for dental professionals
Correct Answer: B – The Iowa Dental Board’s primary function is to
protect the public by regulating the practice of dentistry, dental
hygiene, and dental assisting. It does this through licensing,
establishing standards, investigating complaints, and enforcing the
law, not through setting fees or promoting professional interests .
5. How many members serve on the Iowa Dental Board?
A. 7 members
B. 8 members
,C. 9 members
D. 10 members
Correct Answer: C – The Iowa Dental Board is composed of nine
members: five licensed dentists, two licensed dental hygienists, and
two public members . All members are appointed by the Governor
and confirmed by the Iowa Senate.
6. What is the composition of the Dental Hygiene Committee?
A. Three dentists and two hygienists
B. Two hygienists and one dentist
C. One hygienist and two dentists
D. Four hygienists and one public member
Correct Answer: B – The Dental Hygiene Committee consists of three
members: the two dental hygienist members of the board and one
dentist member who has supervised and worked in collaboration with
a dental hygienist for at least three years . This committee makes
recommendations to the Board regarding dental hygiene practice,
discipline, and education.
7. Under what circumstances may the Iowa Dental Board decline to
ratify a recommendation of the Dental Hygiene Committee?
A. If the recommendation is not supported by the record
B. If the Board simply disagrees with the recommendation
C. If the recommendation is made during a closed session
D. If the recommendation requires public comment
Correct Answer: A – The Board must ratify committee
recommendations unless it makes a specific finding that the
recommendation exceeds the committee’s jurisdiction, expands its
, scope beyond statutory authority, creates an undue financial impact
on the Board, or is not supported by the record .
8. A dentist licensed in Iowa is applying for license renewal. According
to the Iowa Administrative Code 650-13.2, how many continuing
education hours must be completed during the current biennium
renewal period?
A. 15 hours
B. 30 hours
C. 45 hours
D. 60 hours
Correct Answer: B – Iowa Administrative Code 650-25.2(1) mandates
that a licensed dentist must complete a minimum of 30 hours of
continuing education during each two-year renewal cycle. This
requirement ensures that practitioners remain current with advances
in dental science, patient safety protocols, and changes in state law .
9. A registered dental assistant in Iowa must complete how many
hours of continuing education per biennium to renew registration?
A. 10 hours
B. 15 hours
C. 20 hours
D. 25 hours
Correct Answer: C – Registered dental assistants must complete a
minimum of 20 hours of board-approved continuing education during
each biennium renewal period. This is less than the 30 hours required
for dentists and dental hygienists due to the limited scope of practice .
