DH226 Law & Ethics Final Questions
with Correct Answers
Legislative Branch - ANSWERSWhich branch of state government 'enacts' laws and
statutes like the State Dental Practice Act?
All 3 branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial - ANSWERSWhich branches of state
government regulated the practice of dental hygiene?
The State Dental Practice Act - ANSWERSWhich part of government regulations
specifically controls the practice of dental hygiene?
a. Laws that specifically deal with dental hygiene, and also general laws that protect the
state's citizens.
b. One may need to look outside of the state dental practice act for these other laws
since the statutes that regulate health professions are not all encompassing.
c. Examples of laws outside the state practice act: health care claims, informed consent,
malpractice insurance, oftentimes mandatory abuse. - ANSWERSKnow which state
laws dental hygienists need to be familiar with.
No, even though some may be very similar, each state has their own version of the
practice act as they are not regulated nationally - ANSWERSDoes every state have the
same dental practice act?
Annually - ANSWERSHow often a dental hygienist should review their State Dental
Practice Act?
Granted on the basis of licensure in another jurisdiction, permits practice within the
scope of the State Dental Practice Act for a limited period of time while the dental
hygienist pursues full licensure status. - ANSWERSWhat is a temporary license?
Granted on the basis of licensure in another jurisdiction, permits practice within the
scope of the State Dental Practice Act for the purpose of the volunteer (example, public
service, etc). - ANSWERSWhat is a volunteer license?
Granted on the basis of prior licensure in another jurisdiction, permits a faculty member
to practice within the scope of his or her educational responsibilities. - ANSWERSWhat
is a faculty license?
Granted on the basis of examination or endorsement of credentials and permits
unrestricted practice within the scope of the State Dental Practice Act. -
ANSWERSWhat is a full license?
, In his/her place of practice - ANSWERSWhere a practicing dental hygienist needs to
display a copy of her/his state license?
The patient must understand this limitation and either accept the limitation and alter his/
her expectations or seek care from an alternative provider who is able to meet the
expectations. - ANSWERSWhat is the course of action a patient must take if a dental
hygienist is unable to meet the patient's request for treatment?
a. It is a critical factor in the delivery of quality dental hygiene care.
b. It is a two-party association that can only achieve its fullest potential with the
committed participation of each of the parties.
c. It is viewed as a legal contract. - ANSWERSDescribe the dental hygienist-patient
relationship:
a. Patients have a legal right to a copy of their original dental records whether they have
paid their bill or not.
b. The originals are the property of the DDS
c. The practice may charge a small fee for processing. - ANSWERSWhat are the rights
of the patient regarding patient records?
a. Written entries (notes)
b. Photographs
c. Models
d. Radiographs - ANSWERSWhat are the items referred to as the 'dental office
documentation' in which the patient has a legal right to?
a. Only commonly understood acronyms should be used in the dental record so
everyone understands them.
b. Creative or unusual shorthand is highly discouraged as not everyone can understand
them - ANSWERSWhat are the best acronyms for the office to use in the dental record?
a. The state dental practice act dictates how long dental records are to be kept.
b. In Missouri - 7 years
c. In Kansas - 10 years
d. Many legal advisors, however, recommend keeping the records indefinitely because
the most important thing in any legal action are the records. - ANSWERSHow long do
we keep dental records?
a. Draw a single line should be drawn through the entry, followed by a note that an error
was made.
b. The correct information should then be recorded, and the entry signed and dated. -
ANSWERSWhat is the proper way to make a correction to an error in a written chart?
The patient should only be described in objective terms according to the conditions
observed. We do not enter 'the patient is drunk, or high'. - ANSWERSHow do we enter
in the dental notes if one's patient is drunk or on drugs?
with Correct Answers
Legislative Branch - ANSWERSWhich branch of state government 'enacts' laws and
statutes like the State Dental Practice Act?
All 3 branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial - ANSWERSWhich branches of state
government regulated the practice of dental hygiene?
The State Dental Practice Act - ANSWERSWhich part of government regulations
specifically controls the practice of dental hygiene?
a. Laws that specifically deal with dental hygiene, and also general laws that protect the
state's citizens.
b. One may need to look outside of the state dental practice act for these other laws
since the statutes that regulate health professions are not all encompassing.
c. Examples of laws outside the state practice act: health care claims, informed consent,
malpractice insurance, oftentimes mandatory abuse. - ANSWERSKnow which state
laws dental hygienists need to be familiar with.
No, even though some may be very similar, each state has their own version of the
practice act as they are not regulated nationally - ANSWERSDoes every state have the
same dental practice act?
Annually - ANSWERSHow often a dental hygienist should review their State Dental
Practice Act?
Granted on the basis of licensure in another jurisdiction, permits practice within the
scope of the State Dental Practice Act for a limited period of time while the dental
hygienist pursues full licensure status. - ANSWERSWhat is a temporary license?
Granted on the basis of licensure in another jurisdiction, permits practice within the
scope of the State Dental Practice Act for the purpose of the volunteer (example, public
service, etc). - ANSWERSWhat is a volunteer license?
Granted on the basis of prior licensure in another jurisdiction, permits a faculty member
to practice within the scope of his or her educational responsibilities. - ANSWERSWhat
is a faculty license?
Granted on the basis of examination or endorsement of credentials and permits
unrestricted practice within the scope of the State Dental Practice Act. -
ANSWERSWhat is a full license?
, In his/her place of practice - ANSWERSWhere a practicing dental hygienist needs to
display a copy of her/his state license?
The patient must understand this limitation and either accept the limitation and alter his/
her expectations or seek care from an alternative provider who is able to meet the
expectations. - ANSWERSWhat is the course of action a patient must take if a dental
hygienist is unable to meet the patient's request for treatment?
a. It is a critical factor in the delivery of quality dental hygiene care.
b. It is a two-party association that can only achieve its fullest potential with the
committed participation of each of the parties.
c. It is viewed as a legal contract. - ANSWERSDescribe the dental hygienist-patient
relationship:
a. Patients have a legal right to a copy of their original dental records whether they have
paid their bill or not.
b. The originals are the property of the DDS
c. The practice may charge a small fee for processing. - ANSWERSWhat are the rights
of the patient regarding patient records?
a. Written entries (notes)
b. Photographs
c. Models
d. Radiographs - ANSWERSWhat are the items referred to as the 'dental office
documentation' in which the patient has a legal right to?
a. Only commonly understood acronyms should be used in the dental record so
everyone understands them.
b. Creative or unusual shorthand is highly discouraged as not everyone can understand
them - ANSWERSWhat are the best acronyms for the office to use in the dental record?
a. The state dental practice act dictates how long dental records are to be kept.
b. In Missouri - 7 years
c. In Kansas - 10 years
d. Many legal advisors, however, recommend keeping the records indefinitely because
the most important thing in any legal action are the records. - ANSWERSHow long do
we keep dental records?
a. Draw a single line should be drawn through the entry, followed by a note that an error
was made.
b. The correct information should then be recorded, and the entry signed and dated. -
ANSWERSWhat is the proper way to make a correction to an error in a written chart?
The patient should only be described in objective terms according to the conditions
observed. We do not enter 'the patient is drunk, or high'. - ANSWERSHow do we enter
in the dental notes if one's patient is drunk or on drugs?
