NH Dental Jurisprudence key terms

The state agency created by statute that licenses dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants in New Hampshire, adopts rules, investigates complaints, and imposes discipline on licensees who violate the law or Board rules.

New Hampshire's statute that defines the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene, sets out licensing requirements, grants the Board its authority, and lists the grounds on which a licensee may be disciplined.

Regulations formally adopted by the Board under its statutory rulemaking authority that fill in operational detail, such as application procedures, supervision requirements, infection control expectations, recordkeeping, and continuing education.

The licensing pathway in which an applicant must pass the required written and clinical examinations and satisfy education, training, and character requirements before the Board issues a New Hampshire license.

A pathway that lets a dentist or hygienist already licensed and in good standing in another jurisdiction obtain a New Hampshire license based on verified credentials and experience rather than retaking every examination.

The periodic process by which a licensee keeps an active New Hampshire license by submitting a renewal application, attesting to completed continuing education, and paying the required fee before the expiration date printed on the license.

The process for restoring an active license after it has expired, lapsed, or been placed on inactive status, which may require an application, additional fees, proof of continuing education, or Board review.

The minimum number of approved continuing education hours a licensee must complete during each renewal cycle, including any mandated topic areas, with certificates retained so they can be produced if audited by the Board.

Performing acts that fall within the statutory definition of dentistry or dental hygiene without holding a current New Hampshire license, which is unlawful and exposes the person to civil and criminal penalties.

The Board's publicly available licensing records, used by employers, insurers, and patients to confirm whether a practitioner currently holds a valid license and whether any public disciplinary action has been taken.

Penalties the Board may impose after finding a violation, ranging from reprimand and civil penalties to probation, suspension, or revocation of the license, often combined with conditions such as monitoring or remedial education.

The Board's procedure for receiving a complaint about a licensee, deciding whether the alleged conduct falls within its jurisdiction, gathering evidence, and then either closing the matter or pursuing formal charges at a hearing.

The range of duties, procedures, and patient care activities that a particular license or credential type is legally permitted to perform under New Hampshire law and the Board's rules.

A level of oversight in which the dentist is physically present in the office, has examined or authorized care for that patient, and is available to check the work before the patient leaves the practice.

Oversight in which the dentist has authorized the procedure for a specific patient in advance but is not in the treatment room, while still being on the premises or immediately available if needed.

Oversight in which the dentist authorizes care but need not be physically present while it is delivered, with the dentist remaining responsible for the patient's treatment plan and overall outcome.

The assignment of a specific task by a licensed dentist to an auxiliary, permitted only when the task is within that auxiliary's legal scope and is carried out under the level of supervision the rules require.

A licensed auxiliary who provides preventive and therapeutic services such as prophylaxis, periodontal scaling, sealants, and patient education, working under the supervision level specified by statute and Board rules.

A chairside auxiliary who supports the dentist and hygienist with tasks such as suctioning, instrument transfer, radiograph processing, and infection control, with duties limited to those the Board permits.

A dental assistant who has completed additional approved training and may perform a broader set of reversible intraoral duties, such as placing certain restorations, only under the supervision level the rules require.

The dentist's legal ability, as a licensed practitioner with any required federal registration, to prescribe medications and devices for patients when doing so is connected to legitimate dental treatment.

A Board-issued authorization allowing a dentist to provide moderate sedation or similar anxiety-reducing techniques, granted only after documented training, equipment, staffing, and inspection requirements are satisfied.

The degree of skill, care, and judgment that a reasonably competent practitioner in the same field would use in similar circumstances, serving as the benchmark in negligence claims and disciplinary cases.

Delivering dental consultation, screening, or follow-up through electronic communication, which does not relax the licensee's duty to meet the same standard of care and recordkeeping requirements as in-person care.

An infection control approach in which all blood, saliva, and body fluids are treated as potentially infectious, so barriers and other protections are used for every patient regardless of known health status.

A written program required by occupational safety rules that identifies staff at risk, lists protective measures, and describes vaccination, training, and post-exposure procedures for the dental practice.

Barriers such as gloves, masks, protective eyewear, and gowns worn by clinicians and staff to prevent contact with blood or saliva and to protect both the worker and the patient.

The validated processes used to render reusable instruments free of all microorganisms and to reduce contamination on surfaces and equipment between patients, following accepted guidelines and manufacturer instructions.

Practices such as safe needle handling, one-handed recapping techniques, and immediate placement in puncture-resistant containers, plus the steps a worker must follow right after an injury with a contaminated sharp.

The confidential medical evaluation, source testing, counseling, and preventive treatment offered to a worker after an occupational exposure, provided at no cost and documented by the employer.

Items such as blood-soaked gauze, extracted teeth, and used sharps that must be segregated, labeled, stored, and disposed of through approved handlers rather than placed in ordinary trash.

Handling requirements for scrap amalgam, chairside traps, and filters so mercury-containing waste is recycled or disposed of through approved channels and does not enter wastewater or general refuse.

The process of explaining a proposed treatment, its alternatives, material risks, and likely outcomes in terms the patient can understand, then obtaining the patient's voluntary agreement before care begins.

The obligation to keep complete and legible dental records for at least the period set by law and Board rules, with records for minors typically held longer, before they may be destroyed.

The duty to protect patient health information from unauthorized disclosure under professional ethics, state law, and federal privacy rules, subject to limited exceptions such as treatment coordination and legally required reporting.

Ending a professional relationship without adequate notice, explanation, or a reasonable opportunity for the patient to arrange continuing care, which may be treated as unprofessional conduct.

The legal duty of a licensee who suspects child abuse, neglect, or another protected condition to report it promptly to the designated state authority, even where confidentiality would otherwise apply.

Dividing a professional fee with a person or entity that did not provide corresponding services, or paying a commission for patient referrals, which is generally prohibited as unprofessional conduct.

The requirement that public statements about credentials, services, and fees be accurate and not misleading, deceptive, or likely to create an unjustified expectation about treatment results.

A statutory category of conduct falling below acceptable standards, such as incompetence, dishonesty, practicing while impaired, or violating Board rules, that can support discipline even without patient harm.