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NM Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence study materials
NM Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence study resources

NM Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence practice questions

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Question 1Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Under the New Mexico Dental Hygienist Practice Act, which individual is authorized to perform dental hygiene procedures on a patient?

  1. A dental student who has completed a preclinical course
  2. A dental assistant with two years of chairside experience
  3. A person holding a current New Mexico dental hygienist license Correct answer.
  4. An unlicensed office manager trained by the dentist

Explanation

Dental hygiene procedures may be performed only by a person licensed as a dental hygienist by the New Mexico Dental Hygienists Committee, or otherwise expressly authorized by the Act. Experience, coursework, or on-the-job training does not substitute for licensure.

Question 2Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which body within New Mexico's regulation structure is responsible for licensing dental hygienists and administering the dental hygiene provisions of the Act?

  1. The New Mexico Board of Nursing
  2. The New Mexico Higher Education Department
  3. The New Mexico Dental Hygienists Committee Correct answer.
  4. The New Mexico Department of Health

Explanation

The Dental Hygienists Committee, operating within the New Mexico regulation and licensing structure, licenses hygienists and administers the hygiene provisions of the Dental Hygienist Practice Act. The Board of Nursing and the Department of Health regulate other professions and public health functions.

Question 3Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A licensed New Mexico dental hygienist may provide dental hygiene services without the direct supervision of a dentist in which setting?

  1. Only in a school classroom with parental consent
  2. Only in a hospital operating room
  3. Only inside a dental office during posted business hours
  4. In a public health setting authorized for unsupervised practice Correct answer.

Explanation

New Mexico law permits hygienists to practice without dentist supervision in specified public health settings, such as health departments and certain community programs, under conditions set in the Act and rules. Unsupervised practice is not limited to dental offices, hospitals, or classrooms.

Question 4Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which task falls within the scope of practice of a New Mexico dental hygienist?

  1. Diagnosing a periapical abscess on a radiograph
  2. Placing a permanent amalgam restoration
  3. Extracting a mobile primary tooth
  4. Performing dental prophylaxis and scaling Correct answer.

Explanation

The Act's hygiene scope includes preventive and therapeutic services such as prophylaxis, scaling, and root planing. Extraction, restorative dentistry, and definitive diagnosis are reserved to dentists.

Question 5Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist administers local anesthesia under New Mexico law only after completing which requirement?

  1. Any continuing education course in pain control
  2. A letter of support from the employing dentist
  3. A state-approved course and any required certification or permit Correct answer.
  4. One year of full-time clinical hygiene practice

Explanation

Local anesthesia administration by hygienists requires completion of a specified educational program and any permit or certification the Act and rules require. A generic CE course, employer letter, or practice tenure alone does not satisfy this requirement.

Question 6Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which statement best describes the supervision level required when a hygienist performs coronal polishing in a traditional dental office?

  1. Consultation with a physician before treatment
  2. General supervision, meaning the dentist has authorized the procedure but need not be present Correct answer.
  3. Independent practice with no dentist involvement
  4. Direct supervision, meaning the dentist must be physically present chairside

Explanation

Coronal polishing is commonly performed under general supervision, where the dentist authorizes the service and has examined the patient but is not required to be physically present. Direct supervision requires the dentist's presence, which is not the general rule for polishing.

Question 7Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A dentist asks a hygienist to take a final impression for a crown. How should the hygienist respond under the Act?

  1. Complete it and bill it as a hygiene service
  2. Complete it only if a dental assistant is present
  3. Decline because impression-taking for restorative work exceeds hygiene scope Correct answer.
  4. Complete the impression because the dentist delegated it

Explanation

Final impressions for restorative prostheses are part of restorative dentistry and lie outside the dental hygiene scope, so a dentist's delegation cannot make them lawful hygiene duties. Delegation does not expand the statutory scope of practice.

Question 8Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which activity is a dental hygienist permitted to perform under New Mexico's collaborative practice provisions?

  1. Supervising dental assistants in a private practice
  2. Providing hygiene services under a collaborative agreement with a dentist Correct answer.
  3. Extracting teeth in a public health clinic
  4. Prescribing antibiotics for a periodontal infection

Explanation

Collaborative practice allows hygienists to provide hygiene services under an agreement with a dentist, expanding access in specified settings. Prescribing medication, extracting teeth, and supervising assistants remain outside hygiene authority.

Question 9Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A patient asks a New Mexico hygienist to interpret a panoramic radiograph and give a definitive diagnosis of a cyst. What is the appropriate action?

  1. Decline to diagnose and refer the patient to the dentist Correct answer.
  2. Diagnose only if the cyst is clearly visible
  3. Interpret the image and refer for confirmation
  4. Provide the diagnosis because the hygienist took the image

Explanation

Definitive diagnosis of pathology is reserved to dentists; hygienists may expose radiographs and note findings but may not render a final diagnosis. The correct action is referral for dentist evaluation.

Question 10Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which continuing education obligation applies to a licensed New Mexico dental hygienist?

  1. CE hours as specified by the committee for each renewal cycle Correct answer.
  2. CE only for hygienists performing anesthesia
  3. No CE is required after initial licensure
  4. CE only when changing employment settings

Explanation

New Mexico requires licensed hygienists to complete a specified number of continuing education hours each renewal cycle, as set by the committee's rules. CE is an ongoing condition of renewal, not a one-time or situation-specific requirement.

Question 11Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist's license has lapsed for nonrenewal while the hygienist continues treating patients. What is the legal status of that practice?

  1. Lawful if the dentist co-signs the records
  2. Lawful because the hygienist was once licensed
  3. Unlawful practice without a current license Correct answer.
  4. Lawful for up to one year after expiration

Explanation

Practicing dental hygiene requires a current, active license; a lapsed license means the person is no longer authorized to practice. There is no grace period or co-signature workaround that makes expired-license practice lawful.

Question 12Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which action by a hygienist would most likely constitute unprofessional conduct subject to discipline?

  1. Practicing while impaired by alcohol Correct answer.
  2. Completing required continuing education
  3. Referring a patient with an suspicious lesion to the dentist
  4. Documenting treatment accurately in the record

Explanation

Practicing while impaired is expressly the kind of conduct that subjects a licensee to discipline because it endangers patients. Appropriate referral, accurate documentation, and CE compliance are expected professional behaviors.

Question 13Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist discloses a patient's HIV status to a friend without authorization. This conduct is best characterized as:

  1. Acceptable if no name is used
  2. A confidentiality violation subject to discipline Correct answer.
  3. Permissible because the friend is not a patient
  4. Required reporting under public health law

Explanation

Patient information is confidential, and unauthorized disclosure violates the Act's professional conduct standards and patient privacy law. The recipient's identity or omission of a name does not cure the breach.

Question 14Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which infection control obligation applies to a New Mexico dental hygienist?

  1. Sterilization of instruments only at the end of the week
  2. Hand hygiene only before surgical procedures
  3. Compliance with standard precautions and applicable rules Correct answer.
  4. Use of gloves only when the patient requests them

Explanation

Hygienists must follow standard precautions and the infection control requirements adopted in rule, including appropriate barrier use and instrument sterilization between patients. Deferring these practices to patient request or convenience violates the standard of care.

Question 15Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A dentist directs a hygienist to perform a procedure the hygienist believes is outside the hygiene scope. What is the hygienist's best legal course?

  1. Refuse and clarify the scope under the Act Correct answer.
  2. Perform it only if the patient signs a waiver
  3. Perform it because the dentist accepts liability
  4. Perform it and document the dentist's instruction

Explanation

A hygienist is personally accountable for staying within the statutory scope, and a dentist's instruction or a patient waiver cannot legalize an out-of-scope act. The hygienist should decline and resolve the scope question under the Act.

Question 16Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Under the Act, a dental hygienist who observes signs of child abuse or neglect during treatment should:

  1. Wait for the next recall visit to decide
  2. Confront the parent in the operatory
  3. Take no action because reporting is the dentist's duty alone
  4. Report as required by law and document the concern Correct answer.

Explanation

Mandatory reporting laws require health professionals, including hygienists, to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the designated authority and to document the observation. Confrontation is inappropriate and delay is not permitted.

Question 17Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which recordkeeping practice is required of a New Mexico dental hygienist?

  1. Discarding records after thirty days
  2. Keeping records in a personal notebook off-site
  3. Recording only procedures that generate a fee
  4. Maintaining accurate treatment records for each patient Correct answer.

Explanation

Licensees must create and maintain accurate patient records that document assessment, treatment, and recommendations. Destroying records prematurely or keeping incomplete or off-site personal records violates recordkeeping standards.

Question 18Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A New Mexico hygienist wants to administer nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia. Which statement reflects the Act's approach?

  1. A dental assistant may administer it instead
  2. Only a dentist may ever administer nitrous oxide
  3. Any hygienist may administer it without additional training
  4. Administration requires specific training and any permit required by rule Correct answer.

Explanation

Administration of nitrous oxide-oxygen by hygienists is permitted only after the training and any permit or certification required by the Act and rules. It is neither unrestricted nor exclusively a dentist function.

Question 19Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist licensed in another state moves to New Mexico and wishes to practice. What must occur first?

  1. Rely on the other state's license for one year
  2. Practice under the dentist's supervision indefinitely
  3. Begin practicing while the application is pending
  4. Obtain a New Mexico license through the required application process Correct answer.

Explanation

A person must hold a New Mexico license before practicing here; an out-of-state license does not confer authority in New Mexico. The applicant must complete the licensure process, which may include licensure by credentials where allowed.

Question 20Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which factor most directly determines whether a specific intraoral procedure may be delegated to a hygienist in New Mexico?

  1. Whether the dentist has enough staff to assist
  2. Whether the procedure is listed within the statutory hygiene scope and rules Correct answer.
  3. Whether the patient prefers the hygienist
  4. Whether the procedure is profitable for the practice

Explanation

Delegability depends on whether the Act and implementing rules place the procedure within the dental hygiene scope. Staffing, patient preference, and profitability are irrelevant to the legal scope determination.

Question 21Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist in an authorized public health setting suspects a patient needs a restorative referral. What is the appropriate action?

  1. Refer the patient for dentist evaluation and document the referral Correct answer.
  2. Ignore the finding because the setting is unsupervised
  3. Place the restoration to avoid delay
  4. Prescribe an antibiotic and monitor

Explanation

Even where hygienists practice without dentist supervision, restorative needs must be referred to a dentist; the hygienist may not perform restorative treatment or prescribe medication. Documentation of the referral supports continuity of care.

Question 22Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which statement about the relationship between the New Mexico Dental Hygienists Committee and the dental board structure is accurate?

  1. The committee operates within the state regulation structure and sets hygiene licensure standards Correct answer.
  2. The committee reports to the federal government
  3. The committee is a private professional association with no regulatory power
  4. The committee only advises and cannot act on licenses

Explanation

The Dental Hygienists Committee is a regulatory body within New Mexico's licensing structure with authority over hygiene licensure and standards. It is not a private association, a federal entity, or a purely advisory group.

Question 23Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is asked to sign a blank prescription form for the dentist to complete later. What is the appropriate response?

  1. Refuse, because prescription authority rests with the dentist Correct answer.
  2. Sign it only for non-controlled substances
  3. Sign it because the dentist will fill it in
  4. Sign it and note the delegation in the chart

Explanation

Prescribing authority belongs to the dentist, and a hygienist may not sign prescription forms even for later completion. Pre-signing creates legal exposure and misrepresents who is prescribing.

Question 24Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which of these best describes the Act's purpose regarding public protection?

  1. To limit the number of hygienists in the state
  2. To protect the economic interests of licensed dentists
  3. To standardize fees across dental practices
  4. To safeguard the public by setting licensure and practice standards Correct answer.

Explanation

Professional practice acts exist primarily to protect the public by establishing who may practice and under what standards. Economic protection, workforce caps, and fee standardization are not the purpose of the Act.

Question 25Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist moves from general supervision to a setting where the Act requires no supervision. Which statement is correct about the standard of care?

  1. The patient assumes the risk of lower quality care
  2. The same professional standard of care applies regardless of supervision level Correct answer.
  3. The standard of care is lower because no dentist is present
  4. The standard of care applies only when a dentist is on site

Explanation

The level of supervision affects who authorizes care, not the quality expected of the hygienist; the same professional standard of care applies in every setting. Patients do not assume a reduced standard in unsupervised settings.

Question 26Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Under the New Mexico Dental Hygienists Act, which body holds the legal authority to adopt rules governing dental hygiene practice?

  1. The state Secretary of Health in consultation with the Governor's office
  2. The New Mexico Department of Health through its oral health bureau
  3. The New Mexico Board of Dental Health Care, with committee input on hygiene matters Correct answer.
  4. The Dental Hygienists Committee acting alone as an independent rulemaking board

Explanation

The Act places rulemaking authority in the Board of Dental Health Care, while the Dental Hygienists Committee functions in an advisory capacity on hygiene-specific matters. The committee recommends and reviews, but does not itself adopt the rules that carry the force of law.

Question 27Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A dental hygienist wants to place a sealant on a child's newly erupted permanent molar in a school-based program. Which statement best characterizes this procedure under the Act?

  1. It is within hygiene scope and may be performed in the authorized public health setting Correct answer.
  2. It is reserved to dentists because sealants involve irreversible tooth structure alteration
  3. It may only be performed by a hygienist who holds a separate restorative expanded-function license
  4. It requires a written prescription from a dentist before each individual tooth is sealed

Explanation

Sealant application is a recognized preventive hygiene service and is expressly permitted in public health and school-based settings under the Act. It does not require tooth preparation, so it is not an irreversible restorative procedure.

Question 28Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A patient refuses a recommended radiograph and becomes angry, using profanity toward the hygienist. What is the hygienist's most appropriate legal and professional response?

  1. Alter the patient's chart to note that the patient was uncooperative and abusive
  2. Terminate the patient from the practice immediately without any documentation
  3. Document the refusal and the interaction objectively in the record and continue care professionally Correct answer.
  4. Refuse to treat the patient again and tell the front desk to block future scheduling

Explanation

Accurate, objective documentation of a patient's informed refusal and behavior protects both the patient and the clinician and satisfies recordkeeping duties. Abrupt undocumented termination or retaliatory charting can constitute unprofessional conduct.

Question 29Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which statement accurately describes the composition of the New Mexico Dental Hygienists Committee?

  1. It is a standing committee of the Legislature that drafts dental statutes
  2. It includes hygienist members appointed to advise the board on hygiene licensure and practice Correct answer.
  3. It consists of lay consumers only, with no licensed dental professionals
  4. It is composed entirely of practicing dentists elected by the state dental association

Explanation

The committee includes dental hygienist members whose role is to advise the Board of Dental Health Care on hygiene licensure, discipline, and practice issues. It is not a legislative body and is not composed solely of dentists or laypersons.

Question 30Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is employed in a dental office and the dentist is not physically present, but the dentist has examined the patient and authorized hygiene treatment. Which supervision category does this describe?

  1. Direct supervision
  2. Independent practice
  3. General supervision Correct answer.
  4. Collaborative practice

Explanation

General supervision means the dentist has authorized the procedure and examined the patient but need not be physically present during treatment. Direct supervision requires the dentist to be on the premises and evaluate the patient.

Question 31Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is asked to provide a copy of a patient's dental record to the patient's new dentist after a written request and signed release. What is the appropriate action?

  1. Send the records without a release because continuity of care overrides confidentiality
  2. Refuse because dental records may never be released to another provider
  3. Provide the records only if the patient pays the full outstanding balance first
  4. Provide the records as authorized by the patient's signed release and document the disclosure Correct answer.

Explanation

A valid patient authorization permits release of records for continuity of care, and the disclosure should be documented in the chart. Withholding records to collect a debt or releasing them without authorization both raise legal and ethical problems.

Question 32Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which statement best describes the legal significance of the dental hygiene license issued by New Mexico?

  1. It is a local credential issued by the county where the hygienist works
  2. It authorizes the hygienist to practice dentistry independently in any setting
  3. It authorizes practice only in the settings and under the supervision levels the Act permits Correct answer.
  4. It expires automatically whenever the hygienist changes employers

Explanation

A license grants the privilege to practice dental hygiene within the scope and supervision framework established by the Act. It is a state credential, not a local one, and it does not confer independent dental practice authority.

Question 33Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is considering whether a task falls within the practice of dental hygiene. Which source of authority controls that determination?

  1. The office policy manual written by the practice owner
  2. The statutory definition of dental hygiene practice and board rules adopted under the Act Correct answer.
  3. The customary practice of hygienists in neighboring states
  4. The American Dental Hygienists' Association scope-of-practice position paper

Explanation

Scope is defined by the Act's statutory definition and by rules the board adopts, which together set the legal boundary. Professional association documents and office policies may guide practice but do not carry the force of law in New Mexico.

Question 34Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist working under general supervision notices the dentist has not examined the patient before today's hygiene appointment. What is the correct course of action?

  1. Ask the dental assistant to sign as the authorizing dentist
  2. Perform the treatment and obtain the dentist's signature on the chart afterward
  3. Confirm the required dentist examination or authorization before proceeding with treatment Correct answer.
  4. Proceed with scaling because general supervision never requires any dentist involvement

Explanation

General supervision still requires that the dentist has examined the patient and authorized the services; the dentist simply need not be present. Proceeding without the required authorization exceeds the supervision level.

Question 35Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is offered a position providing hygiene services in a nursing home under a program authorized by the Act. Which statement best reflects the supervision framework that may apply?

  1. Only a dentist may provide any oral care in a long-term care facility
  2. All nursing home care requires the dentist to be in the same room throughout treatment
  3. Nursing home hygiene is prohibited because it occurs outside a dental office
  4. Certain authorized settings allow hygiene services with less direct dentist involvement as defined by rule Correct answer.

Explanation

The Act and board rules recognize authorized public health and institutional settings in which hygiene services may be delivered with reduced supervision requirements. These provisions exist to improve access for underserved populations.

Question 36Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A dentist asks a hygienist to administer local anesthesia. Which statement best describes the legal requirement in New Mexico?

  1. Local anesthesia is entirely outside hygiene scope and may never be delegated
  2. The hygienist must hold the specific credential or training required for that expanded function Correct answer.
  3. A dental assistant may administer it if the hygienist supervises
  4. Any licensed hygienist may administer local anesthesia without additional training

Explanation

Expanded functions such as local anesthesia administration require the hygienist to satisfy specific education, examination, and credentialing requirements before performing them. Licensure alone does not automatically confer every expanded function.

Question 37Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

During treatment, a hygienist suspects a patient's lesion may be malignant and the dentist is not in the office. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Tell the patient definitively that the lesion is cancer so they seek care quickly
  2. Document the finding, arrange dentist evaluation promptly, and facilitate referral without giving a diagnosis Correct answer.
  3. Ignore the lesion until the next scheduled recall appointment
  4. Biopsy the lesion to determine whether referral is needed

Explanation

The hygienist's role is to recognize and document abnormal findings and ensure prompt dentist evaluation and referral; rendering a definitive diagnosis or performing a biopsy exceeds hygiene scope. Timely escalation protects the patient.

Question 38Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is asked to supervise a dental assistant performing coronal polishing. Which statement best reflects the Act's approach to this request?

  1. Dental assistants may never perform coronal polishing under any circumstances
  2. The hygienist may supervise only tasks the Act and rules permit to be delegated at that supervision level Correct answer.
  3. The hygienist may supervise any task the dentist delegates, including irreversible procedures
  4. The hygienist may supervise the assistant only if the assistant holds a hygiene license

Explanation

Delegation and supervision of assistants are limited to tasks the Act and board rules assign to that category of personnel at the applicable supervision level. A hygienist cannot expand an assistant's authority by agreement.

Question 39Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is employed in a setting where the Act permits hygiene practice without dentist supervision. Which statement best describes the hygienist's continuing obligations?

  1. The hygienist may perform any dental procedure because supervision is absent
  2. The hygienist may prescribe medications for oral infections
  3. The hygienist remains bound by licensure, recordkeeping, and scope limits despite the reduced supervision Correct answer.
  4. The hygienist no longer needs to maintain continuing education once practicing unsupervised

Explanation

Reduced or absent supervision affects who must authorize care, not the underlying scope of hygiene practice or the licensee's administrative duties. Recordkeeping, continuing education, and scope limits continue to apply.

Question 40Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A patient asks a hygienist to sign a form stating the patient is disabled so the patient can obtain a parking permit. What is the appropriate response?

  1. Sign it only if the dentist is out of the office that day
  2. Sign it, because hygienists may certify any health condition they observe
  3. Sign it and note in the chart that the patient requested it
  4. Decline, because certifying a non-dental disability is outside the hygienist's professional role Correct answer.

Explanation

Professional credentials authorize practice within a defined scope; certifying unrelated disability determinations exceeds that scope and misuses the license. The hygienist should decline and direct the patient to an appropriate provider.

Question 41Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist discovers that a colleague is practicing with an expired license. What is the most appropriate professional response under the Act?

  1. Report the matter to the board rather than ignore or personally cover for the colleague Correct answer.
  2. Say nothing because licensure is a private matter between the colleague and the board
  3. Cover the colleague's patients while encouraging them to renew eventually
  4. Confront the colleague publicly in front of patients to deter the conduct

Explanation

Practicing without a current license is unlawful, and licensees have a professional responsibility to report such conduct to the licensing board. Silence enables unlicensed practice, while public confrontation is unprofessional and ineffective.

Question 42Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

Which statement best describes how the Act treats the relationship between a dental hygienist's scope and a dentist's delegation authority?

  1. Delegation authority is set by the office's written policy rather than by statute
  2. A dentist may delegate any task because the dentist bears ultimate responsibility
  3. A dentist may delegate only tasks that fall within the hygienist's lawful scope and the applicable supervision level Correct answer.
  4. A hygienist may accept any delegated task if the patient consents in writing

Explanation

Delegation is bounded by the statutory scope of hygiene practice and by the supervision level required for each task. A dentist's direction cannot authorize a hygienist to exceed those limits, and patient consent does not expand scope.

Question 43Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is asked to place a temporary restoration in a patient's tooth because the dentist is running late. How should the hygienist respond?

  1. Comply only if the patient agrees and the dentist signs the chart later
  2. Decline, but offer to numb the tooth so the dentist can work faster
  3. Comply, because temporary restorations are a routine preventive service
  4. Decline, because restorative procedures are outside the dental hygiene scope in New Mexico Correct answer.

Explanation

Placing restorations is a restorative dental procedure and falls outside the scope of dental hygiene practice unless a specific expanded-function credential authorizes it. Convenience or delayed signatures do not make the delegation lawful.

Question 44Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is completing a health history and notes the patient reports a serious bleeding disorder. What is the most appropriate action before providing care?

  1. Proceed with routine scaling because health histories are informational only
  2. Ask the dental assistant to decide whether treatment is safe
  3. Cancel the appointment permanently without notifying the patient
  4. Consult with the supervising dentist about precautions and whether treatment should be modified Correct answer.

Explanation

Significant medical findings require consultation with the dentist and appropriate modification of care to protect the patient. Ignoring the history or delegating the clinical judgment to an assistant is inconsistent with professional standards.

Question 45Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist wants to advertise services directly to the public, including stating that the practice offers the latest laser therapy. Which statement best reflects the Act's approach to advertising?

  1. Advertising must be truthful and not misleading, and claims must not imply superiority that cannot be substantiated Correct answer.
  2. Advertising is permitted only if the dentist writes the exact text
  3. Claims of superiority are permitted if the hygienist personally believes them
  4. Any advertising is prohibited because licensees may not solicit patients

Explanation

The Act prohibits false, deceptive, or misleading advertising, including unsubstantiated claims of superiority. Truthful, non-deceptive communication about services is generally permissible.

Question 46Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is treating a patient who is a minor and the parent requests that no radiographs be taken despite clinical indications. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Take the radiographs anyway because the clinical indication overrides the parent's wishes
  2. Respect the parent's decision, explain the risks, and document the informed refusal Correct answer.
  3. Tell the child to authorize the radiographs without the parent's knowledge
  4. Refuse to continue treating the patient unless radiographs are permitted

Explanation

A parent or guardian holds the authority to consent for a minor, and an informed refusal should be respected and documented. Overriding the refusal or coercing consent violates informed-consent principles.

Question 47Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is asked to participate in a research study involving patient records. Which statement best reflects the hygienist's obligations?

  1. Records may be shared if the researcher is a licensed dentist
  2. Research use of records is exempt from confidentiality requirements
  3. Only the practice owner's verbal approval is needed for record use
  4. Patient authorization or an approved protocol with appropriate safeguards is required before records are used Correct answer.

Explanation

Use of identifiable patient records for research requires appropriate authorization or an approved protocol with confidentiality safeguards. Licensure of the researcher or verbal approval from an owner does not eliminate those requirements.

Question 48Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is employed by a dentist who instructs the hygienist to describe a subgingival curettage procedure as a routine cleaning on the insurance claim. What is the appropriate response?

  1. Comply, but note the discrepancy in the patient's chart
  2. Refuse, because submitting a misleading claim constitutes fraud and is unprofessional conduct Correct answer.
  3. Refuse, but submit the claim under a different procedure code chosen by the hygienist
  4. Comply, because billing codes are the dentist's responsibility alone

Explanation

Knowingly submitting a false or misleading claim is insurance fraud and constitutes unprofessional conduct subject to discipline. The hygienist may not participate in the misrepresentation or substitute a code without accurate documentation.

Question 49Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is treating an adult patient who lacks decision-making capacity and has no advance directive or guardian. What is the most appropriate course of action?

  1. Decline all care permanently without further inquiry
  2. Ask another patient in the waiting room to sign the consent
  3. Proceed with all recommended treatment because the patient cannot object
  4. Seek appropriate surrogate decision-making or legal guidance before proceeding with non-emergency care Correct answer.

Explanation

When a patient lacks capacity and no directive or guardian exists, the clinician should pursue proper surrogate authorization or legal guidance for non-emergency care. Proceeding without valid consent or permanently abandoning the patient are both improper.

Question 50Dental Hygienist Practice Act and Scope of Practice

A hygienist is asked by a dentist to perform a procedure the hygienist believes is within scope but for which the hygienist has not completed the required training. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Proceed under the dentist's direct supervision as a substitute for training
  2. Proceed, because scope is determined only by the Act and not by training
  3. Ask the dental assistant to perform the procedure instead
  4. Decline until the required training and credentialing are completed, even if the procedure is generally within scope Correct answer.

Explanation

Lawful performance requires both that the task fall within scope and that the licensee hold the education or credential the Act requires for that function. A task can be in scope generally yet unavailable to a hygienist who lacks the required qualification.