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Maryland Dental Jurisprudence – Original Questions Original Practice
Questions with Answers & Detailed Rationales
1. In Maryland, a licensed dentist may delegate which of the
following tasks to a dental hygienist under general
supervision?
A) Administration of local anesthesia
B) Scaling and root planing
C) Final diagnosis and treatment planning
D) Placement of permanent restorations
Answer: B) Scaling and root planing
Rationale: Maryland law allows dental hygienists to perform
certain preventive and therapeutic procedures, including
scaling and root planing, under general supervision of a
dentist. Administration of local anesthesia typically requires
direct supervision, and diagnosis/treatment planning and
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permanent restorations are within the dentist’s scope of
practice only.
2. A dentist licensed in Maryland must renew their license
every:
A) Year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: B) 2 years
Rationale: Maryland dental licenses are renewed biennially.
Dentists must complete continuing education requirements
and submit renewal by the expiration date. (Note: Verify with
current board rules, as periods can change.)
3. Which of the following is considered unprofessional
conduct under Maryland law?
A) Advertising dental services truthfully
B) Failing to maintain adequate patient records
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C) Providing a copy of records to a patient upon request
D) Referring a patient to a specialist
Answer: B) Failing to maintain adequate patient records
Rationale: Maryland regulations require dentists to maintain
accurate, complete, and legible patient records. Failure to do
so can be grounds for disciplinary action. Truthful
advertising, providing records, and referrals are appropriate
professional behaviors.
4. A Maryland dentist may prescribe controlled substances
only if they have:
A) A valid dental license
B) A DEA registration and Maryland controlled dangerous
substances registration
C) Approval from the Maryland Board of Dental Examiners
D) A written prescription from a physician
Answer: B) A DEA registration and Maryland controlled
dangerous substances registration
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Rationale: Dentists who prescribe controlled substances
must hold both a federal DEA registration and a state CDS
registration. The dental license alone is not sufficient.
5. Under Maryland law, which of the following must be
included in a patient’s dental record?
A) Patient’s social security number
B) Diagnosis, treatment plan, and informed consent
documentation
C) Dentist’s personal notes not shared with patient
D) Patient’s financial history
Answer: B) Diagnosis, treatment plan, and informed consent
documentation
Rationale: Maryland regulations require that patient records
contain clinical information including diagnosis, treatment
plan, progress notes, radiographs, and documentation of
informed consent. Social security number and financial
history are not required clinical record components.
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Maryland Dental Jurisprudence – Original Questions Original Practice
Questions with Answers & Detailed Rationales
1. In Maryland, a licensed dentist may delegate which of the
following tasks to a dental hygienist under general
supervision?
A) Administration of local anesthesia
B) Scaling and root planing
C) Final diagnosis and treatment planning
D) Placement of permanent restorations
Answer: B) Scaling and root planing
Rationale: Maryland law allows dental hygienists to perform
certain preventive and therapeutic procedures, including
scaling and root planing, under general supervision of a
dentist. Administration of local anesthesia typically requires
direct supervision, and diagnosis/treatment planning and
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permanent restorations are within the dentist’s scope of
practice only.
2. A dentist licensed in Maryland must renew their license
every:
A) Year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: B) 2 years
Rationale: Maryland dental licenses are renewed biennially.
Dentists must complete continuing education requirements
and submit renewal by the expiration date. (Note: Verify with
current board rules, as periods can change.)
3. Which of the following is considered unprofessional
conduct under Maryland law?
A) Advertising dental services truthfully
B) Failing to maintain adequate patient records
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C) Providing a copy of records to a patient upon request
D) Referring a patient to a specialist
Answer: B) Failing to maintain adequate patient records
Rationale: Maryland regulations require dentists to maintain
accurate, complete, and legible patient records. Failure to do
so can be grounds for disciplinary action. Truthful
advertising, providing records, and referrals are appropriate
professional behaviors.
4. A Maryland dentist may prescribe controlled substances
only if they have:
A) A valid dental license
B) A DEA registration and Maryland controlled dangerous
substances registration
C) Approval from the Maryland Board of Dental Examiners
D) A written prescription from a physician
Answer: B) A DEA registration and Maryland controlled
dangerous substances registration
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Rationale: Dentists who prescribe controlled substances
must hold both a federal DEA registration and a state CDS
registration. The dental license alone is not sufficient.
5. Under Maryland law, which of the following must be
included in a patient’s dental record?
A) Patient’s social security number
B) Diagnosis, treatment plan, and informed consent
documentation
C) Dentist’s personal notes not shared with patient
D) Patient’s financial history
Answer: B) Diagnosis, treatment plan, and informed consent
documentation
Rationale: Maryland regulations require that patient records
contain clinical information including diagnosis, treatment
plan, progress notes, radiographs, and documentation of
informed consent. Social security number and financial
history are not required clinical record components.
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