RDHAP Law and Ethics Complete
Test 2025/2026
"Dental hygiene board" means -correct answerThe Dental Hygiene Board of California.
"Dental board" means -correct answerThe Dental Board of California.
"Direct supervision" means -correct answerThe supervision of dental procedures
based on instructions given by a licensed dentist who is required to be physically
present in the treatment facility during the performance of those procedures.
"General supervision" means -correct answerThe supervision of dental procedures
based on instructions given by a licensed dentist who is not required to be physically
present in the treatment facility during the performance of those procedures.
"Oral prophylaxis" means -correct answerPreventive and therapeutic dental
procedures that include bacterial debridements with complete removal, supra and
subgingivally, of calculus, soft deposits, plaque, and stains, and the smoothing of tooth
surfaces. The objective of this treatment is to create an environment in which the patient
can maintain healthy hard and soft tissues.
The following functions may be performed by a registered dental hygienist, in addition to
those authorized pursuant to Sections 1908 to 1914, inclusive: -correct answer(a) All
functions that may be performed by a registered dental assistant.
(b) All persons holding a license as a registered dental hygienist, registered dental
hygienist in alternative practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended functions as
of December 31, 2005, are authorized to perform the duties of a registered dental
assistant specified in this chapter. All persons issued a license as a registered dental
hygienist, registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, or registered dental
hygienist in extended functions on or after January 1, 2006, shall qualify for and receive
a registered dental assistant license prior to performance of the duties of a registered
dental assistant specified in this chapter.
(a) The practice of dental hygiene includes: -correct answer- Dental hygiene
assessment and development
- Planning, and implementation of a dental hygiene care plan.
- It also includes oral health education, counseling, and health screenings.
,The practice of dental hygiene does not include any of the following procedures: -
correct answer(1) Diagnosis and comprehensive treatment planning.
(2) Placing, condensing, carving, or removal of permanent restorations.
(3) Surgery or cutting on hard and soft tissue including, but not limited to, the removal of
teeth and the cutting and suturing of soft tissue.
(4) Prescribing medication.
(5) Administering local or general anesthesia or oral or parenteral conscious sedation,
except for the administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen, whether administered alone
or in combination with each other, or local anesthesia pursuant to Section 1909.
A registered dental hygienist is authorized to perform the following procedures under
direct supervision of a licensed dentist, after submitting to the dental hygiene board
evidence of satisfactory completion of a course of instruction, approved by the dental
hygiene board, in the procedures: -correct answer(a) Soft-tissue curettage.
(b) Administration of local anesthesia.
(c) Administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen, whether administered alone or in
combination with each other.
A registered dental hygienist is authorized to perform the following procedures under
general supervision: -correct answer(a) Preventive and therapeutic interventions,
including oral prophylaxis, scaling, and root planing.
(b) Application of topical, therapeutic, and subgingival agents used for the control of
caries and periodontal disease.
(c) The taking of impressions for bleaching trays and application and activation of
agents with nonlaser, light-curing devices.
(d) The taking of impressions for bleaching trays and placements of in-office, tooth-
whitening devices.
(a) A registered dental hygienist may provide, without supervision: -correct
answerEducational services, oral health training programs, and oral health screenings.
A registered dental hygienist shall refer any screened patients with possible oral
abnormalities to a dentist for: -correct answera comprehensive examination, diagnosis,
and treatment plan.
In any public health program created by federal, state, or local law or administered by a
federal, state, county, or local governmental entity, at a sponsored event by a
,sponsoring entity or at a nonprofit organization, a registered dental hygienist may
provide, without supervision: -correct answerDental hygiene preventive services in
addition to oral screenings, including, but not limited to, the application of fluorides and
pit and fissure sealants. A registered dental hygienist practicing as described in this
subdivision may submit, or allow to be submitted, any insurance or third-party claims for
patient services performed as authorized in this article.
Notwithstanding Section 1912, a registered dental hygienist may provide, without
supervision: -correct answerFluoride varnish to a patient
No person other than a registered dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist in
alternative practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended functions or a licensed
dentist may engage in the practice of dental hygiene or perform dental hygiene
procedures on patients, including, but not limited to, supragingival and subgingival
scaling, dental hygiene assessment, and treatment planning, except for the following
persons: -correct answer(a) A student enrolled in a dental or a dental hygiene school
who is performing procedures as part of the regular curriculum of that program under
the supervision of the faculty of that program.
A dental assistant acting in accordance with the rules of the dental board in performing
the following procedures: -correct answer(1) Applying nonaerosol and noncaustic
topical agents.
(2) Applying topical fluoride.
(3) Taking impressions for bleaching trays.
A registered dental assistant acting in accordance with the rules of the dental board in
performing the following procedures: -correct answer(1) Polishing the coronal surfaces
of teeth.
(2) Applying bleaching agents.
(3) Activating bleaching agents with a nonlaser light-curing device.
(4) Applying pit and fissure sealants.
A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice may practice, pursuant to
subdivision (a) of Section 1907, subdivision (a) of Section 1908, subdivisions (a) and (b)
of Section 1910, Section 1910.5, and Section 1926.05 as an -correct answerEmployee
of a dentist or of another registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, as an
independent contractor, as a sole proprietor of an alternative dental hygiene practice, in
a primary care clinic or specialty clinic that is licensed pursuant to Section 1204 of the
Health and Safety Code, in a primary care clinic exempt from licensure pursuant to
subdivision
, (c) of Section 1206 of the Health and Safety Code, in a clinic owned or operated by a
public hospital or health system, in a clinic owned and operated by a hospital that
maintains the primary contract with a county government to fill the county's role under
Section 17000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or in a professional corporation
under the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act (commencing with Section
13400) of Part 4 of Division 3 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code.
In addition to practices authorized in Section 1925, a registered dental hygienist in
alternative practice may perform the duties authorized pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 1907, subdivision (a) of Section 1908, and subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section
1910 in the following settings: -correct answer(a) Residences of the homebound.
(b) Schools.
(c) Residential facilities and other institutions and medical settings that a residential
facility patient has been transferred to for outpatient services.
(d) Dental health professional shortage areas, as certified by the Office of Statewide
Health Planning and Development in accordance with existing office guidelines.
(e) Dental offices.
A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice shall not do any of the following: -
correct answer(a) Infer, purport, advertise, or imply that he or she is in any way able to
provide dental services or make any type of dental diagnosis beyond evaluating a
patient's dental hygiene status, providing a dental hygiene treatment plan, and providing
the associated dental hygiene services.
(b) Hire a registered dental hygienist to provide direct patient services other than a
registered dental hygienist in alternative practice.
True or False:
A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice may submit or allow to be submitted
any insurance or third-party claims for patient services performed as authorized
pursuant to this article. -correct answerTrue
A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice may hire: -correct answerOther
registered dental hygienists in alternative practice to assist in his or her practice.
(b) A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice may hire and supervise dental
assistants performing intraoral retraction and suctioning.
A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice shall provide to the dental hygiene
board documentation of an existing relationship with at least: -correct answerOne
dentist for referral, consultation, and emergency services.
Test 2025/2026
"Dental hygiene board" means -correct answerThe Dental Hygiene Board of California.
"Dental board" means -correct answerThe Dental Board of California.
"Direct supervision" means -correct answerThe supervision of dental procedures
based on instructions given by a licensed dentist who is required to be physically
present in the treatment facility during the performance of those procedures.
"General supervision" means -correct answerThe supervision of dental procedures
based on instructions given by a licensed dentist who is not required to be physically
present in the treatment facility during the performance of those procedures.
"Oral prophylaxis" means -correct answerPreventive and therapeutic dental
procedures that include bacterial debridements with complete removal, supra and
subgingivally, of calculus, soft deposits, plaque, and stains, and the smoothing of tooth
surfaces. The objective of this treatment is to create an environment in which the patient
can maintain healthy hard and soft tissues.
The following functions may be performed by a registered dental hygienist, in addition to
those authorized pursuant to Sections 1908 to 1914, inclusive: -correct answer(a) All
functions that may be performed by a registered dental assistant.
(b) All persons holding a license as a registered dental hygienist, registered dental
hygienist in alternative practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended functions as
of December 31, 2005, are authorized to perform the duties of a registered dental
assistant specified in this chapter. All persons issued a license as a registered dental
hygienist, registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, or registered dental
hygienist in extended functions on or after January 1, 2006, shall qualify for and receive
a registered dental assistant license prior to performance of the duties of a registered
dental assistant specified in this chapter.
(a) The practice of dental hygiene includes: -correct answer- Dental hygiene
assessment and development
- Planning, and implementation of a dental hygiene care plan.
- It also includes oral health education, counseling, and health screenings.
,The practice of dental hygiene does not include any of the following procedures: -
correct answer(1) Diagnosis and comprehensive treatment planning.
(2) Placing, condensing, carving, or removal of permanent restorations.
(3) Surgery or cutting on hard and soft tissue including, but not limited to, the removal of
teeth and the cutting and suturing of soft tissue.
(4) Prescribing medication.
(5) Administering local or general anesthesia or oral or parenteral conscious sedation,
except for the administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen, whether administered alone
or in combination with each other, or local anesthesia pursuant to Section 1909.
A registered dental hygienist is authorized to perform the following procedures under
direct supervision of a licensed dentist, after submitting to the dental hygiene board
evidence of satisfactory completion of a course of instruction, approved by the dental
hygiene board, in the procedures: -correct answer(a) Soft-tissue curettage.
(b) Administration of local anesthesia.
(c) Administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen, whether administered alone or in
combination with each other.
A registered dental hygienist is authorized to perform the following procedures under
general supervision: -correct answer(a) Preventive and therapeutic interventions,
including oral prophylaxis, scaling, and root planing.
(b) Application of topical, therapeutic, and subgingival agents used for the control of
caries and periodontal disease.
(c) The taking of impressions for bleaching trays and application and activation of
agents with nonlaser, light-curing devices.
(d) The taking of impressions for bleaching trays and placements of in-office, tooth-
whitening devices.
(a) A registered dental hygienist may provide, without supervision: -correct
answerEducational services, oral health training programs, and oral health screenings.
A registered dental hygienist shall refer any screened patients with possible oral
abnormalities to a dentist for: -correct answera comprehensive examination, diagnosis,
and treatment plan.
In any public health program created by federal, state, or local law or administered by a
federal, state, county, or local governmental entity, at a sponsored event by a
,sponsoring entity or at a nonprofit organization, a registered dental hygienist may
provide, without supervision: -correct answerDental hygiene preventive services in
addition to oral screenings, including, but not limited to, the application of fluorides and
pit and fissure sealants. A registered dental hygienist practicing as described in this
subdivision may submit, or allow to be submitted, any insurance or third-party claims for
patient services performed as authorized in this article.
Notwithstanding Section 1912, a registered dental hygienist may provide, without
supervision: -correct answerFluoride varnish to a patient
No person other than a registered dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist in
alternative practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended functions or a licensed
dentist may engage in the practice of dental hygiene or perform dental hygiene
procedures on patients, including, but not limited to, supragingival and subgingival
scaling, dental hygiene assessment, and treatment planning, except for the following
persons: -correct answer(a) A student enrolled in a dental or a dental hygiene school
who is performing procedures as part of the regular curriculum of that program under
the supervision of the faculty of that program.
A dental assistant acting in accordance with the rules of the dental board in performing
the following procedures: -correct answer(1) Applying nonaerosol and noncaustic
topical agents.
(2) Applying topical fluoride.
(3) Taking impressions for bleaching trays.
A registered dental assistant acting in accordance with the rules of the dental board in
performing the following procedures: -correct answer(1) Polishing the coronal surfaces
of teeth.
(2) Applying bleaching agents.
(3) Activating bleaching agents with a nonlaser light-curing device.
(4) Applying pit and fissure sealants.
A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice may practice, pursuant to
subdivision (a) of Section 1907, subdivision (a) of Section 1908, subdivisions (a) and (b)
of Section 1910, Section 1910.5, and Section 1926.05 as an -correct answerEmployee
of a dentist or of another registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, as an
independent contractor, as a sole proprietor of an alternative dental hygiene practice, in
a primary care clinic or specialty clinic that is licensed pursuant to Section 1204 of the
Health and Safety Code, in a primary care clinic exempt from licensure pursuant to
subdivision
, (c) of Section 1206 of the Health and Safety Code, in a clinic owned or operated by a
public hospital or health system, in a clinic owned and operated by a hospital that
maintains the primary contract with a county government to fill the county's role under
Section 17000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or in a professional corporation
under the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act (commencing with Section
13400) of Part 4 of Division 3 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code.
In addition to practices authorized in Section 1925, a registered dental hygienist in
alternative practice may perform the duties authorized pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 1907, subdivision (a) of Section 1908, and subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section
1910 in the following settings: -correct answer(a) Residences of the homebound.
(b) Schools.
(c) Residential facilities and other institutions and medical settings that a residential
facility patient has been transferred to for outpatient services.
(d) Dental health professional shortage areas, as certified by the Office of Statewide
Health Planning and Development in accordance with existing office guidelines.
(e) Dental offices.
A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice shall not do any of the following: -
correct answer(a) Infer, purport, advertise, or imply that he or she is in any way able to
provide dental services or make any type of dental diagnosis beyond evaluating a
patient's dental hygiene status, providing a dental hygiene treatment plan, and providing
the associated dental hygiene services.
(b) Hire a registered dental hygienist to provide direct patient services other than a
registered dental hygienist in alternative practice.
True or False:
A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice may submit or allow to be submitted
any insurance or third-party claims for patient services performed as authorized
pursuant to this article. -correct answerTrue
A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice may hire: -correct answerOther
registered dental hygienists in alternative practice to assist in his or her practice.
(b) A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice may hire and supervise dental
assistants performing intraoral retraction and suctioning.
A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice shall provide to the dental hygiene
board documentation of an existing relationship with at least: -correct answerOne
dentist for referral, consultation, and emergency services.
