CA Laws and Ethics Midterm Exam 2025

Dental auxiliary - -a person who may perform dental supportive procedures authorized by the provisions of these regulations under the specified supervision of a licensed dentist Direct supervision - -supervision of dental procedures based on instructions given by a licensed dentist who must be PHYSICALLY present in the treatment facility during performance of those procedures General supervision - -supervision of dental procedures based on instructions given by a licensed dentist, but NOT requiring the PHYSICAL presence of the supervising dentist during the performance of those procedures hygiene license term and expiration - -two year terms; expire at 12am midnight on the last day of the licensee's birthday month during the second year of the second term (ex. Jan 1 birthday, Jan 31 exp) scope of practice of dentistry - -diagnosis or treatment, by surgery or other method, of diseases and lesions and the correction of malpositions of HUMAN teeth, alveolar process, gums, jaws, or associated structures; may include all necessary related procedures as well as the use of drugs, anesthetic agents, physical evaluation scope of practice of dental hygienists - -dental hygiene assessment, development, planning and implementation of a dental hygiene care plan; also includes oral health education, counseling and health screenings beyond scope of practice for dental hygienists - --diagnosis and comprehensive treatment planning -placing, condensing, carving, or removal of permanent restorations -surgery or cutting of hard and soft tissues including, but not limited to, the removal of teeth and the cutting and suturing of soft tissue -prescribing medications -administering local or general anesthesia or oral or parenteral conscious sedations, except for the administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen (alone or in combination with local anesthetic) oral prophylaxis - -preventative 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 Objective of oral prophylaxis - -to create an environment in which the patient can maintain health of hard and soft tissues Dental assistants (DA) - --unlicensed but duties and actions are still governed by the CA Dental Practice Act -still required to complete coursework in infection control (8 hr), CA Practice Act (2 hr), BLS license statuses - -awarded, restored, renewed, suspended, revoked (cannot be renewed, but can be restored/reinstated), inactivated, reinstated, or reissued expired license - -can renew within 5 years of expiration; requires: -application to renew-pay all accrued renewal fees since expiration -pay all delinquency fees -complete CE as recommended by the DHBC inactive license - -holder of inactive licenses still have to pay the required biennial renewal fees; to reactivate, you have to show proof that you have completed enough CE to be compliant with CE 2 years proceeding license renewal RDH CE requirements - -25 hours of CE per term-- half of the hours (12.5) must be live lecture hours, other half may be obtained from self-instruction courses (on demand/recorded presentations) -required to complete coursework in infection control (2 hrs, Cal OSHA requires 2 hrs of IC per year), the CA Practice Act (2 hrs), and BLS -RDHAP must take 35 hours per term -dentists must take 50 hours per term CE audits - --DHBC is supposed to audit al least 5% of active RDH licensees per year to ensure compliance with CE requirements -no more than 20% of course credits can be non-clinical (practice management, HR, etc.) -max. number of hours a licensee can earn in one day is 8 -must maintain records of CE for 3 renewal cycles (6 years) how many expanded function assistants can a dentist supervise? - -no more than three RDAEF or RDHEF's new infection control guideline - -failure to irrigate using sterile water or other irrigation method that contains a disinfecting or antibacterial property (CHX) when performing dental procedures on exposed dental pulps (root canals, pulpectomies, pulpotomies) is considered unprofessional conduct DHBC (previously Dental Hygiene Committee of California) is comprised of how many members and what types? - -9 members total (4 public, 1 dentist, 4 hygienists): -7 members appointed by the governor (2 members of public, 1 practicing or public health dentist, 4 DH (1 RDHEF or RDHAP, one educator) -1 public member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules -1 public member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly purpose of DHBC - -to protect the people of California (consumers) Change of address (physical or email) - -need to notify DHBC within 30 days Name change - -need to notify DHBC within 10 days Most common grounds for discipline - -unprofessional conduct Who handles violations to the practice act and discipline? - -DH Board's Complaint Unit How may a licensee have their license revoked or suspended, or reprimanded or placed on probation? - -unprofessional conduct, incompetence, gross negligence, repeated acts of negligence in the licensee's profession, or receiving a license by mistake When can conviction of crimes committed by dental professionals outside of workplace be grounds for discipline and may impact license status? - -if the crime is "substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the licensee"; reviewed on a case-by case basis, but in general, convictions of assaults, sex crimes, multiple misdemeanors (second DUI) will constitute for denial or revocation of a license Unprofessional conduct examples - --engaging in any form of fraud or misrepresentation -aiding and abetting any unlicensed person to practice dentistry (includes DA) -aiding and abetting of a licensed person to practice dentistry unlawfully -sexual abuse, misconduct, or relations with a patient of record -using any name other than the name which you are licensed -receiving or providing a commission or "bounty" to refer or procure patients -employing or using the services of a solicitor -advertising professional superiority, to guarantee any dental service, to complete any dental service painlessly -clearly excessing diagnosis or treatment -altering patient records -unsafe or unsanitary office conditions Patient death or hospitalized and later death due to complications related to a dental or dental hygiene procedure - -need to report to DHBC within 7 days or within 7 days of discovery of death Posting of duties - -table of permitted duties must be posted in a common area of the office that delineates duties and functions deemed by the board as delegable within stipulated settings and/or circumstances licenses and name tags - -every dental professional licensed in the practice must have his/her name, license type, and highest level of academic degree communicated to the patient by one of the following: -provided in writing in the patient's initial office visit