New Jersey Dental Jurisprudence
Finals Assessment Review
(Questions & Solutions)
2025
©2025
, 1. (Introduction to Dental Jurisprudence)
Case Scenario: A New Jersey dentist is presented with an emergency
case when a patient arrives unconscious without an available legal
guardian. Which principle permits the dentist to proceed with necessary
treatment?
A. Expressed consent
B. Implied consent
C. Deferred consent
D. Waived consent
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: In emergency situations where the patient is incapacitated,
New Jersey jurisprudence recognizes the doctrine of implied consent,
authorizing immediate treatment to preserve life or health.
---
2. (Statutory Framework and Regulations)
Case Scenario: A dental practice in New Jersey is being reviewed for
non-compliance with record retention guidelines under the NJ Dental
Practice Act. Which deficiency is most likely to prompt regulatory action?
A. Failing to use digital records
B. Lacking time-stamped, complete patient documentation
C. Minor clerical errors in billing
D. Outdated advertising materials
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: New Jersey’s statutory framework mandates complete,
accurate, and time-stamped record keeping. Repeated documentation
lapses undermine both patient safety and legal defenses, triggering
board review.
©2025
,---
3. (Professional Responsibility and Ethics)
Case Scenario: A New Jersey dentist alters a treatment plan mid-
procedure without discussing the change with the patient or guardian.
This oversight most directly violates which ethical principle?
A. Beneficence
B. Patient autonomy
C. Non‑maleficence
D. Justice
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: Patient autonomy requires that individuals are fully
informed and consent to all aspects of their treatment. Failure to
communicate changes denies the patient the opportunity to make an
informed, voluntary decision.
---
4. (Record Keeping, Documentation, and Consent)
Case Scenario: During an internal audit, it is discovered that several
surgical procedures at a New Jersey dental office were performed
without properly signed informed consent forms. What is the most
appropriate corrective action?
A. Rely on post‑operative verbal confirmations
B. Immediately re‐obtain written consent or secure ratification where
possible
C. Dismiss the oversight if no harm occurred
D. Report the issue solely to the insurance provider
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: New Jersey law requires contemporaneous written
informed consent for irreversible procedures. Prompt corrective action
(i.e., re‐obtaining documented consent) is essential to meet legal and
ethical obligations.
©2025
, ---
5. (Infection Control, Safety, and Public Health)
Case Scenario: Following a needle-stick injury, a dental assistant at a
New Jersey practice is at risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
Which protocol must the practice initiate immediately?
A. Delayed reporting until symptoms develop
B. Immediate decontamination with proper personal protective
equipment (PPE) and post‑exposure prophylaxis
C. Continued work with documentation filed later
D. Self-medication and monitoring
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: NJ regulations and public health guidelines require
immediate decontamination, proper use of PPE, and timely initiation of
post‑exposure prophylaxis to mitigate the risk of infection.
---
6. (Delegation and Supervision)
Case Scenario: A supervising NJ dentist delegates a radiographic
diagnostic procedure to a dental assistant without verifying the
assistant’s current training or credentials. Which regulatory principle is
compromised?
A. Proper scheduling
B. Adherence to scope of practice and supervision requirements
C. Patient confidentiality
D. Financial transparency
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: New Jersey law mandates that delegated clinical tasks must
remain within the legally defined scope of practice, which includes
verifying the delegate’s credentials and ensuring proper, documented
supervision.
©2025
Finals Assessment Review
(Questions & Solutions)
2025
©2025
, 1. (Introduction to Dental Jurisprudence)
Case Scenario: A New Jersey dentist is presented with an emergency
case when a patient arrives unconscious without an available legal
guardian. Which principle permits the dentist to proceed with necessary
treatment?
A. Expressed consent
B. Implied consent
C. Deferred consent
D. Waived consent
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: In emergency situations where the patient is incapacitated,
New Jersey jurisprudence recognizes the doctrine of implied consent,
authorizing immediate treatment to preserve life or health.
---
2. (Statutory Framework and Regulations)
Case Scenario: A dental practice in New Jersey is being reviewed for
non-compliance with record retention guidelines under the NJ Dental
Practice Act. Which deficiency is most likely to prompt regulatory action?
A. Failing to use digital records
B. Lacking time-stamped, complete patient documentation
C. Minor clerical errors in billing
D. Outdated advertising materials
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: New Jersey’s statutory framework mandates complete,
accurate, and time-stamped record keeping. Repeated documentation
lapses undermine both patient safety and legal defenses, triggering
board review.
©2025
,---
3. (Professional Responsibility and Ethics)
Case Scenario: A New Jersey dentist alters a treatment plan mid-
procedure without discussing the change with the patient or guardian.
This oversight most directly violates which ethical principle?
A. Beneficence
B. Patient autonomy
C. Non‑maleficence
D. Justice
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: Patient autonomy requires that individuals are fully
informed and consent to all aspects of their treatment. Failure to
communicate changes denies the patient the opportunity to make an
informed, voluntary decision.
---
4. (Record Keeping, Documentation, and Consent)
Case Scenario: During an internal audit, it is discovered that several
surgical procedures at a New Jersey dental office were performed
without properly signed informed consent forms. What is the most
appropriate corrective action?
A. Rely on post‑operative verbal confirmations
B. Immediately re‐obtain written consent or secure ratification where
possible
C. Dismiss the oversight if no harm occurred
D. Report the issue solely to the insurance provider
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: New Jersey law requires contemporaneous written
informed consent for irreversible procedures. Prompt corrective action
(i.e., re‐obtaining documented consent) is essential to meet legal and
ethical obligations.
©2025
, ---
5. (Infection Control, Safety, and Public Health)
Case Scenario: Following a needle-stick injury, a dental assistant at a
New Jersey practice is at risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
Which protocol must the practice initiate immediately?
A. Delayed reporting until symptoms develop
B. Immediate decontamination with proper personal protective
equipment (PPE) and post‑exposure prophylaxis
C. Continued work with documentation filed later
D. Self-medication and monitoring
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: NJ regulations and public health guidelines require
immediate decontamination, proper use of PPE, and timely initiation of
post‑exposure prophylaxis to mitigate the risk of infection.
---
6. (Delegation and Supervision)
Case Scenario: A supervising NJ dentist delegates a radiographic
diagnostic procedure to a dental assistant without verifying the
assistant’s current training or credentials. Which regulatory principle is
compromised?
A. Proper scheduling
B. Adherence to scope of practice and supervision requirements
C. Patient confidentiality
D. Financial transparency
- Correct ANS: B
- Rationale: New Jersey law mandates that delegated clinical tasks must
remain within the legally defined scope of practice, which includes
verifying the delegate’s credentials and ensuring proper, documented
supervision.
©2025
