Law and Ethics CA Exam Questions
and All Correct Answers.
-appx 9 questions on RDH functions/Scope of practice
-appx 9 questions on license maintenance (includes mandated reporter and infection control)
-appx 9 questions on unprofessional conduct
-appx 30 on ethical principles
Ethics - Answer moral standards of conduct; rules or principles that govern proper conduct
Code of ethics - Answer voluntary standards of behavior established by a profession; not a
"law"; implied contract between dental professional and society
Laws - Answer standards of behavior established by a population of profession; California
Dental Practice Act
Due care - Answer proper and sufficient care of the patient
HIPAA - Answer Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996; ensures privacy
regarding a patient's healthcare information (PHI)
Committee - Answer this term refers to Dental Hygiene Committee of California; can
reprimand, suspend, or revoke licenses for unprofessional conduct, gross negligence, conviction
of a crime, etc.
Dental board - Answer this term refers to Dental Board of California
Dec 31, 2005 - Answer a RDH can perform duties of RDA only if they are licensed prior to this
date
General supervision - Answer supervision of dental procedures based on instructions by a
licensed dentist who is not required to be physically present in the facility during those
procedures; i.e scaling, root planing, impressions, activation of agents with light-curing devices
(NONLASER)
Direct supervision - Answer supervision of dental procedures by a licensed dentist that is
required to be physically present in the treatment facility; i.e. local anesthesia, nitrous oxide
(and oxygen) and curettage
, Without supervision - Answer supervision of an RDH for screenings, educational services,
oral health trainings, application of fluoride and P&F sealants, submitting insurance and third
party claims
Oral prophylaxis - Answer preventive and therapeutic dental procedures that includes
bacterial debridement with complete removal of supra and sub plaque and calculus and stains
Functions of a RDH - Answer practice of dental hygiene DOES include: Assessment,
Development, Planning, and Implementation, as well as screenings, OHI, and counseling
practice of dental hygiene does NOT include: diagnosis, comprehensive treatment planning,
placing or removing restorations, surgery or cutting any hard or soft tissues, prescribing meds,
administering conscious sedation or general anesthesia
30 days - Answer amount of time to notify committee if you have a change of physical or
email address
10 days - Answer amount of time to notify committee if you have a legal name change
License renewal - Answer license expires at 12 midnight on the last day of your legal birth
month during the second year of a 2-year term and must be renewed prior to expiration
Standard precautions - Answer infection prevention practices that apply to all patients,
regardless of any suspected or confirmed infection status; includes use of PPEs, hand washing,
and handling of sharps
Critical items - Answer items at high risk for infection if they are contaminated with any
microorganism; includes instruments and other devices that penetrate soft tissue or bone; must
be sterilized by steam autoclave, chem vapor, or dry heat
Semi-critical items - Answer instruments, devices, and other items that DO NOT penetrate
soft tissue or bone but do contact oral mucous membranes, non-intact skin, or other potentially
infectious materials (OPIM)
Non-critical items - Answer instruments, devices, equipment, and surfaces that come in
contact with soil, debris, saliva, blood, OPIM, but NOT oral mucous membranes; cleaned with
low-level disinfection effective against HIV and HBV
and All Correct Answers.
-appx 9 questions on RDH functions/Scope of practice
-appx 9 questions on license maintenance (includes mandated reporter and infection control)
-appx 9 questions on unprofessional conduct
-appx 30 on ethical principles
Ethics - Answer moral standards of conduct; rules or principles that govern proper conduct
Code of ethics - Answer voluntary standards of behavior established by a profession; not a
"law"; implied contract between dental professional and society
Laws - Answer standards of behavior established by a population of profession; California
Dental Practice Act
Due care - Answer proper and sufficient care of the patient
HIPAA - Answer Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996; ensures privacy
regarding a patient's healthcare information (PHI)
Committee - Answer this term refers to Dental Hygiene Committee of California; can
reprimand, suspend, or revoke licenses for unprofessional conduct, gross negligence, conviction
of a crime, etc.
Dental board - Answer this term refers to Dental Board of California
Dec 31, 2005 - Answer a RDH can perform duties of RDA only if they are licensed prior to this
date
General supervision - Answer supervision of dental procedures based on instructions by a
licensed dentist who is not required to be physically present in the facility during those
procedures; i.e scaling, root planing, impressions, activation of agents with light-curing devices
(NONLASER)
Direct supervision - Answer supervision of dental procedures by a licensed dentist that is
required to be physically present in the treatment facility; i.e. local anesthesia, nitrous oxide
(and oxygen) and curettage
, Without supervision - Answer supervision of an RDH for screenings, educational services,
oral health trainings, application of fluoride and P&F sealants, submitting insurance and third
party claims
Oral prophylaxis - Answer preventive and therapeutic dental procedures that includes
bacterial debridement with complete removal of supra and sub plaque and calculus and stains
Functions of a RDH - Answer practice of dental hygiene DOES include: Assessment,
Development, Planning, and Implementation, as well as screenings, OHI, and counseling
practice of dental hygiene does NOT include: diagnosis, comprehensive treatment planning,
placing or removing restorations, surgery or cutting any hard or soft tissues, prescribing meds,
administering conscious sedation or general anesthesia
30 days - Answer amount of time to notify committee if you have a change of physical or
email address
10 days - Answer amount of time to notify committee if you have a legal name change
License renewal - Answer license expires at 12 midnight on the last day of your legal birth
month during the second year of a 2-year term and must be renewed prior to expiration
Standard precautions - Answer infection prevention practices that apply to all patients,
regardless of any suspected or confirmed infection status; includes use of PPEs, hand washing,
and handling of sharps
Critical items - Answer items at high risk for infection if they are contaminated with any
microorganism; includes instruments and other devices that penetrate soft tissue or bone; must
be sterilized by steam autoclave, chem vapor, or dry heat
Semi-critical items - Answer instruments, devices, and other items that DO NOT penetrate
soft tissue or bone but do contact oral mucous membranes, non-intact skin, or other potentially
infectious materials (OPIM)
Non-critical items - Answer instruments, devices, equipment, and surfaces that come in
contact with soil, debris, saliva, blood, OPIM, but NOT oral mucous membranes; cleaned with
low-level disinfection effective against HIV and HBV
