AL Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence flashcards
AL Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence · Build recall with a focused review session.
35 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Dental Practice Act citation
- The Alabama Dental Practice Act is found in Ala. Code §§ 34-9-1 to 34-9-43, governing dental and dental hygiene practice.
- Board composition
- The Alabama Board of Dental Examiners has 9 members: 6 dentists, 2 dental hygienists, and 1 consumer member, appointed by the Governor.
- Board member terms
- Board members serve 5-year terms and may be reappointed; hygienist members must hold active Alabama licenses.
- Board quorum
- A majority of the Board (5 of 9 members) constitutes a quorum for conducting official business.
- License renewal cycle
- Alabama dental hygiene licenses expire on September 30 of odd-numbered years and must be renewed biennially.
- Continuing education requirement
- Licensees must complete 30 hours of CE per biennium, including 2 hours each in infection control and ethics.
- Licensure by credentials
- A hygienist licensed in another state with equivalent requirements and at least 5 years of clinical experience may apply for Alabama licensure by credentials.
- Temporary license
- A temporary license may be issued to an out-of-state hygienist for up to 6 months while completing Alabama licensure requirements.
- Inactive license status
- A licensee may request inactive status in writing, pay a biennial fee, and must not practice until reactivated.
- Late renewal penalty
- Renewing within 60 days after expiration incurs a penalty fee; after 60 days, reinstatement may require additional CE and fees.
- Hygienist scope: prophylaxis
- Dental hygienists may perform prophylactic procedures, scaling and root planing, and topical fluoride and sealant application under supervision.
- Local anesthesia administration
- Hygienists may administer local anesthesia and nitrous oxide only after Board-approved training and under direct supervision of a dentist.
- Radiograph duties
- Hygienists may take radiographs and perform dental hygiene assessments, including periodontal charting, under supervision.
- Prohibited hygienist duties
- Hygienists may not diagnose, prescribe, or perform irreversible procedures such as crown preparation or extraction.
- Amalgam restoration placement
- Hygienists may place and carve amalgam restorations only under direct supervision after the dentist verifies competency.
- Direct supervision definition
- The dentist must be physically present in the office and examine the patient before and after treatment.
- Indirect supervision definition
- The dentist must be in the office but need not examine the patient before treatment; the dentist is available for consultation.
- General supervision definition
- The dentist has authorized treatment but is not required to be on-site; the patient must have been examined within the past 12 months.
- Collaborative practice agreement
- A written agreement with a dentist allowing a hygienist with at least 1 year of experience to practice in certain settings without prior examination.
- Collaborative practice settings
- Collaborative practice may occur in schools, nursing homes, and other public health settings as defined by Board rule.
- CDC standard precautions
- Alabama adopts CDC guidelines requiring standard precautions for all patients, including hand hygiene and PPE use.
- Hand hygiene protocol
- Use alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water before and after patient contact; wash with soap and water when hands are visibly soiled.
- Sterilization parameters
- Critical instruments must be cleaned, packaged, and autoclaved at 121°C (250°F) for 15-20 minutes at 15 psi or use a validated sterilizer.
- Biological indicator monitoring
- Sterilizers must be monitored weekly with biological indicators (spore tests), and logs kept for at least 3 years.
- Sharps handling
- Sharps must be disposed of in puncture-resistant, labeled containers; needles must not be recapped.
- Record retention period
- Patient records must be maintained for at least 5 years from the date of last treatment per Alabama Board rule.
- Informed consent elements
- Informed consent requires disclosure of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the opportunity to ask questions before treatment.
- Minor consent
- For patients under 18, consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian before treatment.
- Confidentiality exception
- Patient information may be disclosed without authorization when required by law, such as subpoena or public health reporting.
- Unprofessional conduct examples
- Practicing beyond scope, incompetence, fraud, substance abuse, and infection control violations are unprofessional conduct.
- Board sanctions
- The Board may impose reprimand, probation, suspension, revocation, or fines for violations of the Dental Practice Act.
- Adverse action reporting
- Licensees must report any adverse action taken by another state or agency to the Board within 30 days.
- Truthful advertising
- Advertising must be truthful, not misleading, and include the licensee's name and license type; false advertising is prohibited.
- Fee splitting prohibition
- Dental hygienists may not split fees with unlicensed persons or pay/receive kickbacks for patient referrals.
- Specialty advertising
- A dentist may advertise a specialty only if he or she has completed an ADA-recognized specialty program.