MD Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence flashcards
MD Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence · Build recall with a focused review session.
33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Maryland Dental Practice Act location
- The Act appears in the Health-General Article of the Maryland Code, Title 4, Subtitles 1 through 3, and is implemented through regulations in COMAR Title 10, Subtitle 44.
- State Board of Dental Examiners
- The Maryland board that licenses dentists and dental hygienists, adopts implementing regulations, investigates complaints, and imposes discipline within its statutory authority.
- Board membership composition
- The Board includes dentist members, at least one dental hygienist member, and consumer members appointed by the Governor, so hygiene practice has direct representation in rulemaking.
- Statute versus regulation
- Statutes passed by the General Assembly set scope, licensure, and penalties; Board regulations supply operational detail such as supervision tiers and continuing education hour counts.
- General supervision definition
- The authorizing dentist has examined or diagnosed the patient and authorized hygiene procedures, but need not be present in the office while the hygienist performs them.
- Direct supervision definition
- The dentist is physically present in the office suite, has evaluated the patient, and remains available to evaluate the patient's condition during and after the procedure.
- Hygienist local anesthesia requirements
- Administration of local anesthesia requires a Board-approved educational course, current basic life support certification, and compliance with anesthesia regulations, typically under direct supervision.
- Prohibited hygiene acts
- A hygienist may not diagnose, prescribe, perform irreversible surgical procedures, or render services outside the scope established by statute and Board regulation.
- Public health hygienist practice
- A hygienist practicing in designated public health settings such as schools or health departments may work under a reduced supervision arrangement defined by Board regulation.
- License renewal prerequisites
- Renewal requires a completed continuing education attestation, payment of the renewal fee, and disclosure of any changes affecting licensure or practice status.
- Lapsed license consequences
- Practicing after the expiration date without renewal constitutes unlicensed practice, exposing the hygienist to discipline and possible criminal penalty.
- Reinstatement after lapse
- Reinstatement usually requires late fees, proof of continuing education for the missed cycle, and Board review before practice may resume lawfully.
- Continuing education mandatory topics
- Maryland mandates continuing education in specified subjects, historically including infection control, and the current hour requirements and cycle should be confirmed with the Board.
- Standard precautions
- All patients are treated as potentially infectious; gloves, masks, eye protection, and hand hygiene are used for every patient encounter regardless of known status.
- Sterilization monitoring
- Each load uses mechanical and chemical indicators, and biological spore testing is performed at the interval required by regulation or office policy to verify sterilizer efficacy.
- Exposure control plan
- A written plan required by bloodborne pathogen rules that describes exposure determination, protective equipment, hepatitis B vaccination offer, and post-exposure evaluation procedures.
- Sharps handling rule
- Contaminated sharps go directly into closable, puncture-resistant, labeled containers at the point of use, and hand recapping is avoided to prevent needlesticks.
- Informed consent elements
- Valid consent requires disclosure of the diagnosis, proposed treatment, reasonable alternatives including no treatment, and material risks, documented before care begins.
- Patient record access right
- Patients may obtain copies of their dental records; the practice must respond within the statutory timeframe and may charge a permitted copying fee.
- Abandonment definition
- Unilaterally terminating care without reasonable notice, without giving the patient time to secure another provider, or without transferring records on request.
- Mandatory reporting duty
- A hygienist with credible knowledge that another licensee poses a serious risk to patients or has committed a reportable violation must notify the Board.
- Delegating dentist responsibility
- The dentist who delegates a task remains accountable for the patient and must confirm the delegatee holds the proper license and competence for that task.
- Referral of out-of-scope findings
- When the hygienist identifies pathology or a condition beyond hygiene scope, the hygienist documents the finding and refers it promptly to the dentist or physician.
- Collaborative arrangement documentation
- Practicing under general supervision requires a documented authorizing relationship with a dentist, identifying who authorized the procedure and who remains responsible.
- Delegation limits by license
- A dentist may delegate only tasks that statute or regulation assigns to that license type; the parties cannot expand scope by private agreement.
- Contemporaneous chart entry
- Documentation is made at the time of service and includes date, provider, procedure, sites treated, anesthesia, and the patient's response to treatment.
- Record correction method
- Errors are corrected by a dated, signed addendum that preserves the original entry; erasing, overwriting, or backdating entries is prohibited.
- Record retention period
- Maryland sets a minimum retention period for dental records, with longer retention for minors, and records must remain available for Board investigation.
- Protected health information
- Specially sensitive information such as HIV status carries stricter disclosure limits under Maryland law, and release requires specific authorization or legal mandate.
- Board complaint process
- A complaint is screened for jurisdiction, investigated, and if warranted results in a charge letter, notice, and an opportunity for an administrative hearing.
- Emergency suspension authority
- The Board may suspend a license before a hearing when continued practice presents an imminent danger to public health, safety, or welfare.
- Range of Board sanctions
- Sanctions include reprimand, probation with conditions, suspension, revocation, civil fines, and mandated remedial education, monitoring, or practice restrictions.
- Judicial appeal standard
- Appeals of Board decisions go to circuit court on the administrative record, and factual findings are upheld if supported by substantial evidence.