Scope of Practice
This domain tests whether you can assign a task to the correct Oregon licensee and supervision level. The Board polices the boundary between dentistry, dental hygiene, dental assisting, and unlicensed support work under ORS chapter 679 and OAR chapter 818.
Who may perform which services
- Dentist: diagnosis, treatment planning, prescribing, surgical and restorative care, and overall responsibility for the patient.
- Dental hygienist: preventive and therapeutic hygiene services; certain expanded services, such as local anesthesia or nitrous oxide/oxygen, require additional training and a Board permit.
- Dental assistant: basic supportive duties; expanded functions only after Board-recognized training or certification; assistants do not diagnose or independently treat.
- Expanded practice dental hygienist: may provide services in specified community settings under a collaborative agreement rather than onsite dentist supervision.
Supervision terms
Oregon uses direct, indirect, general, and collaborative supervision. Direct generally means the dentist is physically present and checks the patient; indirect means prior authorization with the dentist onsite; general means the dentist has authorized care but need not be onsite. A task is not delegable merely because it is routine.
Worked example
A patient asks an uncertified assistant to scale calculus because the hygienist is at lunch. Scaling is a hygiene service, so the assistant may not perform it. The dentist should have the hygienist complete it or reschedule. The assistant may continue suction and retraction within basic supportive duties.
Traps that cost marks
- Treating direct supervision as availability by phone.
- Letting unlicensed staff expose radiographs.
- Assuming an expanded function is transferable to every assistant.
- Confusing a collaborative agreement with independent, unlimited practice.