CT Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence flashcards

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Connecticut dental hygiene statute

Dental hygiene practice in Connecticut is governed primarily by Chapter 379 of the General Statutes and Title 20, Part 111 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

Definition of dental hygiene

Statutorily defined services rendered under dentist supervision, including prophylaxis, scaling, root planing, and assessment; it excludes diagnosis and prescription of treatment.

Local anesthesia certification

A hygienist may administer local anesthesia only with separate statutory authorization and certification beyond the hygiene license, and only under the supervision level the law specifies.

Public health facility exception

Certain statutory settings permit hygiene services under modified supervision rules, but the site must meet the legal definition of a public health facility.

Licensure requirements

Graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program, passage of the national board and a clinical examination, and satisfaction of jurisprudence and character requirements.

Annual renewal

Connecticut dental hygiene licenses renew annually; practicing after expiration without reinstatement constitutes unlicensed practice and is subject to discipline.

Address of record

Licensees must keep the Department informed of current address; official notices and service of process are valid when sent to the address on file.

Inactive status

A hygienist who does not renew may not practice until reinstated; reinstatement may require additional fees, CE, or explanation for the lapse.

Direct supervision

The dentist has authorized the procedure, is physically present in the office, and evaluates the patient before and after the hygienist renders the service.

Indirect supervision

The dentist has authorized the procedure and is present in the office but need not be in the operatory while the hygienist performs the authorized service.

General supervision

The dentist authorizes the procedure but is not required on the premises; the patient must be a patient of record with a current dentist examination.

Patient of record

A person examined and accepted by the dentist within the interval set by statute or regulation, permitting hygiene treatment under the applicable supervision level.

Standard precautions

Infection control applied to all patients regardless of known infectious status, treating all blood and saliva as potentially infectious under CDC and OSHA standards.

Biological indicator testing

Spore tests verify sterilizer efficacy; results must be logged and retained, and a failed test requires corrective action before instruments are used.

Exposure control plan

A written OSHA-required plan describing PPE, hepatitis B vaccination offers, training, post-exposure evaluation, and documentation maintained by the practice.

Sharps handling

Contaminated sharps go into puncture-resistant, closable containers at point of use; recapping is allowed only by mechanical device or one-handed technique.

Record retention

Connecticut requires dental records be kept for a defined period, generally at least seven years for adults; records must be legible, dated, and authenticated.

Informed consent elements

Disclosure of diagnosis, proposed treatment, material risks, alternatives including no treatment, and the patient's voluntary agreement, documented in the record.

Record alteration

Corrections must be dated addenda; obliterating or backdating entries is falsification and a serious ground for disciplinary action.

Confidentiality exceptions

Disclosure without authorization is permitted only where law requires it, such as reportable disease, suspected abuse, or a valid court order.

Unprofessional conduct

Statutory category including fraud in licensure, practicing beyond scope, record falsification, impairment, patient abuse, and aiding unlicensed practice.

Patient abandonment

Terminating care without reasonable notice, without providing records, or without arranging continued treatment; it is a disciplinable breach of professional duty.

Impairment reporting

Practicing while impaired by alcohol or drugs is a ground for discipline; licensees may have a duty to report impaired colleagues who pose a risk to patients.

Deceptive advertising

False, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims, including guaranteed results and improper use of specialty titles, constitute unprofessional conduct.

Complaint intake

Complaints go to the Department of Public Health, which investigates; the Dental Commission reviews findings and may recommend sanctions to the Department.

Summary suspension

Immediate restriction of a license where public health and safety require it, followed promptly by notice and an opportunity for a contested case hearing.

UAPA hearing rights

Under Chapter 54, the licensee receives notice of charges, counsel, the right to present and cross-examine evidence, and a decision on the record.

Standard of proof

The Department must prove disciplinary charges by a preponderance of the evidence; the burden rests on the Department, not on the licensee.

Available sanctions

Penalties include reprimand, probation with conditions, suspension, revocation, civil penalties, and required remediation or continuing education.

CE documentation

Certificates from approved providers must be retained for the required period and produced on audit; non-approved or undocumented courses do not satisfy the requirement.

Mandatory subject areas

Connecticut regulations designate required CE topics, commonly infection control and ethics, with specified minimum hours that must be verified each renewal cycle.

Delegation limits

A dentist may delegate only tasks the auxiliary is licensed or certified to perform; delegating beyond scope exposes both dentist and auxiliary to discipline.

Specialist title restriction

Use of a specialty designation is limited to dentists holding specialty certification recognized by the Dental Commission; hygienists may not hold out as dentists.