Iowa Dental Board Jurisprudence Exam — Study Guide
Iowa Dental Board Jurisprudence
Examination
Practice Study Guide — 150 Multiple-Choice Questions with Rationale
For Dentists, Dental Hygienists, and Registered Dental Assistants
1. Under Iowa Code chapter 153, the term “board” means:
A. The American Dental Association's Iowa chapter
B. The dental board created under Iowa Code chapter 147
C. Any regional dental testing service
D. The Iowa Department of Public Health
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Iowa Code §153.12 defines “board” as the dental board created
under chapter 147.
2. Which of the following is expressly classified as “practice of dentistry”
under Iowa Code §153.13?
A. Performing, offering to perform, or assisting with tooth whitening
procedures, including instruction in their application
B. Taking a patient's blood pressure before a physical exam
C. Cleaning dentures at a retail kiosk
D. Selling over-the-counter whitening strips at a pharmacy
Correct Answer: A
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, Iowa Dental Board Jurisprudence Exam — Study Guide
Rationale: §153.13(3) specifically includes performing, offering to perform,
or assisting with any phase of tooth-whitening operations — including
instruction or application of materials — at any location, within the
practice of dentistry.
3. Which class of person is NOT included within the definition of “practice
of dentistry” under Iowa Code §153.14?
A. A licensed physician who treats a diseased jaw as an incident to general
medical practice
B. A dental hygiene student practicing on patients in clinics connected
with an accredited program
C. A person publicly professing to be a dentist without a license
D. A person performing diagnosis of oral disease for compensation
without any license
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: §153.14 excludes students in accredited programs, physicians
treating oral conditions incident to general practice, hygienists exclusively
practicing hygiene, and certain military and registered dental assistant
personnel — not unlicensed persons professing to be dentists, which
remains unlawful practice under §153.13 and §153.17.
4. A dentist licensed in another state who is on active duty with the U.S.
military and treats patients in Iowa while acting within the line of duty is:
A. Required to obtain an Iowa temporary permit first
B. Excluded from the definition of practicing dentistry under §153.14
C. Guilty of unlawful practice under §153.17
D. Required to register as a dental assistant
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §153.14(4) excludes dentists and dental hygienists licensed in
another state who are active or reserve military members acting in the line
of duty in Iowa.
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, Iowa Dental Board Jurisprudence Exam — Study Guide
5. Which services fall within the permitted scope of a licensed dental
hygienist under Iowa Code §153.15?
A. Diagnosing periodontal disease independently
B. Complete oral prophylaxis, application of preventive agents, and
exposure/processing of radiographs
C. Extraction of teeth under local anesthesia
D. Prescribing medicaments for a patient's oral condition
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §153.15 lists complete oral prophylaxis, application of
preventive agents, exposure and processing of radiographs, administering
medicaments prescribed by a dentist, and preparing records for the
dentist's interpretation, among the hygienist's permitted duties. Diagnosis,
prescribing, and surgical procedures remain reserved to the dentist.
6. Which hygiene services may be performed WITHOUT the supervision of a
licensed dentist?
A. Complete oral prophylaxis
B. Exposure of radiographs
C. Educational services such as oral health workshops for schools and
community groups
D. Application of preventive agents to oral structures
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: §153.15 requires dentist supervision for hygiene services
generally, but explicitly exempts educational services (assessing, planning,
implementing, and evaluating oral health education programs and
conducting related workshops/training).
7. To be eligible for licensure as a dental hygienist under §153.15A, an
applicant must present evidence of:
A. Five years of prior chairside experience
B. A degree from an accredited dental hygiene program of at least two
academic years, plus a valid CPR certificate
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, Iowa Dental Board Jurisprudence Exam — Study Guide
C. Completion of dental school
D. A letter of recommendation from a supervising dentist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §153.15A requires an accredited dental hygiene
degree/certificate (minimum two academic years) and a valid CPR
certification.
8. A dental hygienist renewing licensure must furnish evidence of:
A. Malpractice insurance coverage
B. Valid annual CPR certification, which counts toward the continuing
education requirement
C. A signed collaborative practice agreement
D. Board approval of the hygienist's employer
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §153.15A(2) requires valid annual CPR certification for renewal,
and that certification is credited toward the licensee's continuing
education requirement.
9. A dentist who owns a dental office where another licensed dentist
practices must:
A. File quarterly reports with the board
B. Display the name of the practicing dentist conspicuously at the public
entrance
C. Co-sign every patient chart
D. Notify all patients in writing annually
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §153.16 requires the owner/operator/controller of a dental
office to conspicuously display the name of any other person practicing
dentistry there at the public entrance.
10. Under §153.17, who may lawfully practice dentistry, dental surgery, or
dental hygiene in Iowa?
Page 4
Iowa Dental Board Jurisprudence
Examination
Practice Study Guide — 150 Multiple-Choice Questions with Rationale
For Dentists, Dental Hygienists, and Registered Dental Assistants
1. Under Iowa Code chapter 153, the term “board” means:
A. The American Dental Association's Iowa chapter
B. The dental board created under Iowa Code chapter 147
C. Any regional dental testing service
D. The Iowa Department of Public Health
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Iowa Code §153.12 defines “board” as the dental board created
under chapter 147.
2. Which of the following is expressly classified as “practice of dentistry”
under Iowa Code §153.13?
A. Performing, offering to perform, or assisting with tooth whitening
procedures, including instruction in their application
B. Taking a patient's blood pressure before a physical exam
C. Cleaning dentures at a retail kiosk
D. Selling over-the-counter whitening strips at a pharmacy
Correct Answer: A
Page 1
, Iowa Dental Board Jurisprudence Exam — Study Guide
Rationale: §153.13(3) specifically includes performing, offering to perform,
or assisting with any phase of tooth-whitening operations — including
instruction or application of materials — at any location, within the
practice of dentistry.
3. Which class of person is NOT included within the definition of “practice
of dentistry” under Iowa Code §153.14?
A. A licensed physician who treats a diseased jaw as an incident to general
medical practice
B. A dental hygiene student practicing on patients in clinics connected
with an accredited program
C. A person publicly professing to be a dentist without a license
D. A person performing diagnosis of oral disease for compensation
without any license
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: §153.14 excludes students in accredited programs, physicians
treating oral conditions incident to general practice, hygienists exclusively
practicing hygiene, and certain military and registered dental assistant
personnel — not unlicensed persons professing to be dentists, which
remains unlawful practice under §153.13 and §153.17.
4. A dentist licensed in another state who is on active duty with the U.S.
military and treats patients in Iowa while acting within the line of duty is:
A. Required to obtain an Iowa temporary permit first
B. Excluded from the definition of practicing dentistry under §153.14
C. Guilty of unlawful practice under §153.17
D. Required to register as a dental assistant
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §153.14(4) excludes dentists and dental hygienists licensed in
another state who are active or reserve military members acting in the line
of duty in Iowa.
Page 2
, Iowa Dental Board Jurisprudence Exam — Study Guide
5. Which services fall within the permitted scope of a licensed dental
hygienist under Iowa Code §153.15?
A. Diagnosing periodontal disease independently
B. Complete oral prophylaxis, application of preventive agents, and
exposure/processing of radiographs
C. Extraction of teeth under local anesthesia
D. Prescribing medicaments for a patient's oral condition
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §153.15 lists complete oral prophylaxis, application of
preventive agents, exposure and processing of radiographs, administering
medicaments prescribed by a dentist, and preparing records for the
dentist's interpretation, among the hygienist's permitted duties. Diagnosis,
prescribing, and surgical procedures remain reserved to the dentist.
6. Which hygiene services may be performed WITHOUT the supervision of a
licensed dentist?
A. Complete oral prophylaxis
B. Exposure of radiographs
C. Educational services such as oral health workshops for schools and
community groups
D. Application of preventive agents to oral structures
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: §153.15 requires dentist supervision for hygiene services
generally, but explicitly exempts educational services (assessing, planning,
implementing, and evaluating oral health education programs and
conducting related workshops/training).
7. To be eligible for licensure as a dental hygienist under §153.15A, an
applicant must present evidence of:
A. Five years of prior chairside experience
B. A degree from an accredited dental hygiene program of at least two
academic years, plus a valid CPR certificate
Page 3
, Iowa Dental Board Jurisprudence Exam — Study Guide
C. Completion of dental school
D. A letter of recommendation from a supervising dentist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §153.15A requires an accredited dental hygiene
degree/certificate (minimum two academic years) and a valid CPR
certification.
8. A dental hygienist renewing licensure must furnish evidence of:
A. Malpractice insurance coverage
B. Valid annual CPR certification, which counts toward the continuing
education requirement
C. A signed collaborative practice agreement
D. Board approval of the hygienist's employer
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §153.15A(2) requires valid annual CPR certification for renewal,
and that certification is credited toward the licensee's continuing
education requirement.
9. A dentist who owns a dental office where another licensed dentist
practices must:
A. File quarterly reports with the board
B. Display the name of the practicing dentist conspicuously at the public
entrance
C. Co-sign every patient chart
D. Notify all patients in writing annually
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §153.16 requires the owner/operator/controller of a dental
office to conspicuously display the name of any other person practicing
dentistry there at the public entrance.
10. Under §153.17, who may lawfully practice dentistry, dental surgery, or
dental hygiene in Iowa?
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