PA Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Dental Law enactment year

Pennsylvania's Dental Law, Act 76, was enacted in 1933 and established the State Dental Council and Examining Board, the predecessor of today's State Board of Dentistry.

Board composition

The State Board of Dentistry has 13 members: 7 dentists, 2 dental hygienists, 1 expanded-function dental assistant, and 3 public members, each appointed by the Governor.

Dental hygiene CE requirement

Pennsylvania dental hygienists must complete 10 hours of continuing education per biennial renewal period, including at least 2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting.

Dentist CE requirement

Licensed dentists must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years, including mandated topics such as child abuse recognition and reporting and opioid prescribing.

Renewal cycle

Dental licenses in Pennsylvania renew every two years. Practicing after the expiration date without renewal is a violation and may result in civil penalties.

Direct supervision

The supervising dentist is physically present in the office, has examined the patient, and is available to evaluate the patient before dismissal.

Indirect supervision

The dentist has examined the patient and authorized the procedure but is not required to be physically present in the office during the procedure.

General supervision

The dentist authorizes procedures but is not required to be present in the office; the patient must have been examined within the preceding period set by regulation.

Local anesthesia permit

A dental hygienist must hold a Board-issued local anesthesia permit, obtained through additional training, to administer local anesthesia under direct supervision of a dentist.

Nitrous oxide permit

Administration of nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia requires a separate Board permit and additional training beyond the dental hygiene license itself.

Unprofessional conduct

Includes practicing beyond scope, impaired practice, infection-control violations, patient abandonment, fraud, and failure to report suspected child abuse or violations by other licensees.

Board disciplinary powers

The Board may reprimand, suspend, revoke, restrict, or place a license on probation, impose civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, and assess investigation costs.

Mandatory reporting duty

Licensees must report to the Board known violations of the Dental Law by other licensees, including impairment or unprofessional conduct, and must report suspected child abuse.

Reinstatement petition

A licensee whose license was revoked or suspended may petition the Board for reinstatement, presenting evidence of rehabilitation; the Board may impose conditions.

PALS license lookup

The Pennsylvania Licensure System (PALS) is the public database where patients and employers can verify a licensee's status and disciplinary history.

Standard of care

The degree of care, skill, and judgment ordinarily exercised by a reasonably prudent dental professional under similar circumstances in the community.

Record retention period

Patient dental records must be retained for at least five years from the date of last treatment and must be legible, dated, and complete.

Informed consent elements

Consent requires disclosure of diagnosis, proposed treatment, risks, alternatives, and consequences of declining treatment, documented in the patient record.

Patient abandonment

Terminating the dentist-patient relationship without adequate notice, without providing records, or without allowing time to secure another provider.

Delegation rule

A dentist may delegate only tasks within the delegate's licensed scope; the supervising dentist remains responsible for all delegated patient care.

Infection control standard

Practices must follow CDC and OSHA standards: sterilize critical instruments, use single-use disposables, and maintain sterilization monitoring logs.

Child abuse reporting

Licensees must report suspected child abuse under the Child Protective Services Law and complete Board-required training in recognition and reporting.

Scope of dental hygiene

Dental hygienists provide preventive services such as prophylaxis, scaling, root planing, sealants, and patient education under dentist supervision.

Expanded-function dental assistant

An EFDA holds Board certification to perform expanded duties, such as coronal polishing and sealant placement, under dentist supervision.

Continuing education audit

The Board may audit CE compliance; licensees must retain certificates of completion for a period specified by regulation, typically two renewal cycles.

Civil penalty authority

The Board may impose civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation for unlicensed practice or violations of the Dental Law and Board regulations.

Advertising restrictions

Advertising must be truthful and not misleading; guaranteeing results or claiming superiority without supporting evidence constitutes unprofessional conduct.

Prescribing controlled substances

A valid dentist-patient relationship, DEA registration, and PDMP query when required are prerequisites; prescribing to self or family without documentation is prohibited.

Supervision responsibility

The supervising dentist is accountable for all care delivered by hygienists and assistants, including compliance with supervision level requirements.

Board investigation cooperation

Licensees must respond to Board subpoenas and cooperate with investigations; failure to cooperate is itself a ground for disciplinary action.

Jurisprudence examination

Applicants must pass a jurisprudence examination covering the Dental Law and Board regulations as part of licensure requirements in Pennsylvania.

Public member role

Three public members serve on the Board to represent consumer interests and participate in all licensure and disciplinary decisions.