GA Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence key terms

The state regulatory body that licenses dentists and dental hygienists, adopts rules implementing the Dental Practice Act, investigates complaints, and imposes discipline ranging from reprimand to license revocation.

Georgia's statute governing the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene, defining who may practice, what tasks each license permits, and how the Board enforces standards.

The legally permitted range of duties a licensee may perform under a given credential, level of supervision, and setting, as set by statute and Board rule rather than by employer preference.

The route to a Georgia hygiene license requiring graduation from an accredited program, passage of accepted clinical and written examinations, and submission of a Board application with fee and background information.

The periodic process by which a hygienist keeps a license active, requiring a timely application, payment of the required fee, and attestation of completed continuing education before the expiration date.

The minimum number of approved clock hours a hygienist must complete each renewal cycle, including any mandated subject areas such as infection control or ethics specified by Board rule.

The Board's process of randomly selecting licensees and requiring documentation, such as certificates of completion, proving that reported continuing education hours were actually earned.

A license that has expired because renewal was not completed on time; practicing on a lapsed license is unlicensed practice and may require a late fee, reinstatement application, or reexamination.

A non-practicing status a licensee may request so the license is not used to treat patients; specific conditions and fees govern returning from inactive to active practice.

The categories of oversight a dentist must provide when a hygienist performs duties, typically described as direct, indirect, or general supervision depending on the task and patient circumstances.

A level of oversight in which the dentist has authorized the procedure, is physically present in the office, and personally evaluates the patient's condition before and after the hygienist's service.

Oversight in which the dentist has authorized the procedure and is present in the office but does not need to personally examine the patient immediately before or after the hygienist's work.

The least restrictive oversight level, where the dentist authorizes care but need not be on the premises while the hygienist treats the patient, subject to any statutory conditions.

A procedure some hygienists may perform only after additional Board-approved training and certification, and only under the supervision level the statute specifies for that setting.

A credential confirming that a licensee completed required training and examination for an expanded function, such as local anesthesia or nitrous oxide monitoring, beyond the base hygiene license.

The rules and accepted protocols for preventing disease transmission in dental settings, covering hand hygiene, protective barriers, instrument processing, and surface disinfection.

The validated process that destroys all microbial life on instruments, typically using an autoclave with monitoring such as spore testing, indicators, and proper packaging and storage.

The practice of treating all blood, saliva, and body fluids as potentially infectious and applying barriers and hygiene measures for every patient regardless of known diagnosis.

Barrier items such as gloves, masks, protective eyewear, and gowns that a clinician wears to prevent contact with bloodborne pathogens and splatter during patient care.

A written workplace program required of dental offices that describes how the practice prevents, reports, and follows up on occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material.

The required steps after a sharps exposure, including immediate washing, reporting to the employer, source evaluation, and medical follow-up for post-exposure prophylaxis decisions.

The legal chart documenting a patient's history, findings, treatment, consent, and communications; it must be accurate, timely, and retained for the period the Board requires.

The minimum period a dental practice must keep patient records after the last treatment or the patient's majority, as set by Board rule or other applicable law.

A patient's voluntary agreement to treatment after being told the diagnosis, proposed care, reasonable alternatives, material risks, and likely outcomes in understandable terms.

The duty to protect patient health information from unauthorized disclosure, allowing release only with valid authorization, legal compulsion, or a recognized exception such as suspected abuse reporting.

Conduct that violates the standards of the profession or Board rules, such as practicing beyond one's scope, abandoning patients, or practicing while impaired.

The enumerated behaviors that authorize the Board to sanction a licensee, including fraud in obtaining a license, negligence, substance impairment, and unprofessional conduct.

Entering false information in a patient chart or license application, such as signing for treatment not performed or claiming unearned continuing education hours; it is a disciplinary offense.

Performing dental hygiene duties without a valid Georgia license or while the license is suspended, lapsed, or restricted, which exposes the practitioner and employer to legal penalties.

The most severe Board sanction, permanently voiding the license unless the Board later grants reinstatement after a waiting period and proof of rehabilitation.

The dentist's assignment of a specific task to a hygienist or assistant, valid only when the task falls within that person's lawful scope and the required supervision is in place.

An arrangement in which a hygienist provides defined services under an agreement with a dentist, often with defined referral and communication duties rather than continuous on-site presence.

The documented process of directing a patient to another provider for care outside the hygienist's scope or competence, with findings and communication sent to the receiving clinician.

A biological monitoring method using bacterial spores to verify that an autoclave actually achieves sterilization, with results logged and failures requiring corrective action.

The full chain of cleaning, packaging, sterilizing, and storing dental instruments so that contaminated items are handled safely and sterile items stay sterile until use.

A patient-based clinical licensure examination accepted by Georgia as part of the credentialing pathway, demonstrating hands-on competence before an independent hygiene license is issued.

The credential authorizing a person to practice dental hygiene in Georgia within statutory limits, subject to renewal, continuing education, and Board discipline.