OH Dental Jurisprudence cheat sheet
OH Dental Jurisprudence · Keep the key ideas within reach.
Ohio Dental Laws and Rules (Jurisprudence)
Ohio State Dental Board (OSDB) regulates dentistry under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 4715 and Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 4715. Board consists of 9 members: 6 dentists, 1 hygienist, and 2 public members, appointed by the Governor.
Licensure: must graduate from an accredited dental school, pass national boards (NBDE), and pass a clinical exam (e.g., ADEX) or a CODA-accredited residency; also pass an Ohio jurisprudence exam. Licenses renew every two years (odd-numbered years for dentists, even for hygienists) by December 31.
Continuing education: 40 hours per biennium for dentists, including 2 hours opioid prescribing, 2 hours ethics, and 1 hour of Ohio jurisprudence; hygienists need 24 hours per biennium, including 2 hours opioid and 1 hour ethics.
Supervision levels: general supervision (dentist authorized but not on premises), indirect supervision (dentist on premises but not in operatory), direct supervision (dentist on premises and in operatory), and personal supervision (dentist performs or directly observes). Expanded functions (e.g., coronal polishing, sealants, radiographs) require a permit and specified supervision.
Scope of practice: dentists may perform all dental procedures; hygienists may perform prophylaxis, scaling, root planing, and administer local anesthesia under direct supervision with a permit; dental assistants may perform expanded functions with a permit (e.g., coronal polishing, sealants, radiographs) under specified supervision.
Unprofessional conduct includes: practicing beyond scope, failing to maintain infection control (OSHA/CDC), abandoning patients, fraud/deception, practicing while impaired, failing to report child abuse, and violating patient confidentiality (HIPAA).
Infection control: must comply with Ohio Department of Health rules (OAC 3701-72) and CDC guidelines, including sterilization of instruments, surface disinfection, hand hygiene, and use of PPE. Records of sterilization monitoring must be kept.
Prescribing: Ohio law requires dentists to register with OARRS (Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System) and review patient history before prescribing opioids; also must provide naloxone information under certain conditions. Mandatory reporting of impaired colleagues to the Board.
Disciplinary actions: Board may suspend, revoke, or limit licenses, impose fines, require remedial education, or issue public reprimands. Grounds include felony conviction, substance abuse, gross negligence, and failure to meet CE requirements.