MN Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence flashcards
MN Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Minnesota Dental Practice Act citation
- The Minnesota Dental Practice Act is codified at Minn. Stat. ch. 150A. It governs licensure and scope for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants, while the Board's detailed rules appear in Minn. R. ch. 3100.
- Practice of dental hygiene definition
- A statutory term describing the services a licensed dental hygienist may provide. Scope questions are resolved by matching the service to this definition plus any additional conditions imposed by Board rule.
- Board of Dentistry rulemaking authority
- The Board adopts administrative rules in Minn. R. ch. 3100 to implement the Dental Practice Act. Rules may add training, supervision, and documentation conditions but cannot expand the statute's outer scope boundary.
- Expanded functions dental assistant
- A dental assistant holding additional Board-recognized credentialing that permits specified expanded services under the Dental Practice Act and rules. The credential is distinct from the dental hygiene license and has its own supervision conditions.
- Hygienist local anesthesia authority
- Administration of local anesthesia by a dental hygienist requires specific statutory authorization and satisfaction of Board education and certification conditions. It is not included automatically with the dental hygiene license.
- Direct supervision meaning
- A supervision level in which the dentist is physically present and examines the patient before and after the service. The exact statutory and rule conditions control what the hygienist may do at this level.
- Indirect supervision meaning
- A supervision level in which the dentist need not be physically present but must have authorized the service in advance and remain available for consultation. Prior examination and record requirements are set by rule.
- Collaborative supervision arrangement
- A statutory supervision level allowing a hygienist to treat patients without the dentist's prior examination of each patient, but only under a written collaborative agreement with a licensed dentist and within statutory limits.
- Collaborative agreement contents
- A written agreement identifying the collaborating dentist and defining services, consultation, and referral arrangements. The hygienist's collaborative authority exists only while the agreement is current and valid.
- Licensure by credentials
- A pathway allowing a hygienist licensed in another jurisdiction to obtain Minnesota licensure based on verified education, examination history, and prior licensure, subject to Board rule and application requirements.
- License renewal cycle
- Dental hygiene licenses are time-limited and must be renewed on the Board's established cycle with a complete application, fee, and CE attestation. Practicing after expiration is unlicensed practice.
- Restricted license effect
- A Board-imposed limitation on practice terms, such as supervision, setting, or prohibited services. The license remains valid but practicing beyond the restriction is a disciplinary violation.
- Standard precautions
- Infection control practices applied to all patients regardless of diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves, masks, eye protection, and gowns when splash or spatter is anticipated.
- Sterilization monitoring records
- Documentation showing that instrument sterilization processes were validated and monitored, such as autoclave cycle records and indicator results. These records must be maintained and available for inspection.
- Exposure control plan
- A written OSHA-required plan describing how bloodborne pathogen exposure risks are reduced, including engineering controls, work practices, protective equipment, and post-exposure procedures for staff.
- Hepatitis B vaccination offer
- OSHA requires employers to offer hepatitis B vaccination at no cost to employees with occupational exposure risk. Declination must be documented, and post-exposure evaluation must be available.
- Patient record retention
- Patient records must be accurate, contemporaneous, and retained for the period required by Minnesota statute and Board rule. Records must remain retrievable and be released only as law permits.
- Confidentiality of patient records
- Patient health information is confidential and may be disclosed only with patient authorization or under a recognized legal exception. Minnesota law adds specific patient-access and consent requirements.
- Fraud in obtaining license
- A disciplinary ground covering false statements or deception in a licensure application, examination, or renewal. It supports discipline independent of the licensee's current competence or practice quality.
- Patient abandonment
- Unprofessional conduct in which a provider terminates care without reasonable notice, an opportunity to arrange alternative care, or proper referral, leaving the patient without needed follow-up.
- Practicing while impaired
- Providing care while affected by alcohol, drugs, or another condition impairing judgment. It is a disciplinary violation; treatment-program participation may be a condition but does not erase the violation.
- Improper delegation
- Assigning a service to a person not licensed or qualified to perform it, or accepting a delegated service outside one's own scope. Both the delegator and the accepting provider can face discipline.
- Falsifying clinical records
- Altering or creating records that misstate care, including after a complaint arises. It is a separate basis for discipline and can aggravate sanctions for the underlying conduct.
- Misrepresentation of credentials
- Using a title, abbreviation, or certification not actually held, or otherwise misleading the public about qualifications. Advertising and professional identification must be accurate and not deceptive.
- Mandatory reporting to Board
- Minnesota law requires health professionals to report specified conduct to the Board of Dentistry, including certain sexual misconduct involving patients. The duty is statutory and not waivable by employers.
- Complaint intake screening
- The Board reviews incoming complaints for jurisdiction and sufficiency, then may dismiss, investigate, or resolve the matter by agreement before formal charges are issued.
- Contested case hearing
- A formal administrative proceeding before an administrative law judge when allegations are disputed. The judge issues a recommendation and the Board makes the final agency decision.
- Disciplinary sanction range
- Board sanctions may include corrective action, civil penalties, reprimand, restriction, suspension, or revocation, often with conditions such as monitoring, coursework, or practice limitations.
- Duty to answer Board inquiry
- A licensee must respond to Board requests within the required time. Failing to cooperate with an investigation is itself a violation and can support a separate disciplinary charge.
- CE documentation retention
- Licensees must keep certificates or other proof of continuing education completion for the period set by rule and produce them on Board audit or request.
- CE attestation falsification
- Claiming continuing education credit for courses not completed or misrepresenting hours is a disciplinary violation. It is treated as dishonesty, not as a harmless renewal error.
- Lapsed license reinstatement
- Restoring an expired license may require late fees, additional continuing education, or other Board conditions. Practicing before reinstatement is unlicensed practice.