RDH Law and Ethics Examination Actual Exam Dental Hygiene
Jurisprudence, Professional Ethics & Legal Responsibilities
Complete Questions and Answers Detailed Rationales Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Dental Practice Act & Scope of Practice
Q1: Under general supervision, a registered dental hygienist may perform which of the
following?
A. Diagnose dental caries and develop a treatment plan for the patient
B. Administer local anesthesia after the dentist has examined the patient and left
written instructions
C. Perform surgical extraction of a permanent tooth
D. Place a permanent amalgam restoration without a dentist's prior examination
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Under general supervision, the dentist does not need to
be physically present but must have examined the patient first and provided written
instructions or a standing order. Local anesthesia administration is a delegated
expanded function that many states permit under general supervision once the dentist
has done the initial exam. Remember that diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical
extractions, and permanent restorations are outside the scope of dental hygiene
practice and cannot be delegated to a hygienist under any supervision level.
Q2: A dental hygienist working in a school-based sealant program in a Dental Health
Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA) is operating under which supervision level?
A. Direct supervision only, with the dentist on-site at all times
B. Personal supervision, with the dentist physically present in the operatory
C. General supervision or direct access, depending on the state practice act
,D. No supervision is required in public health settings
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Many states allow hygienists in public health settings
like school-based sealant programs and mobile clinics to work under general
supervision or even direct access statutes, especially in designated shortage areas. The
Dental Practice Act in your state will specify which level applies, but the trend has been
toward less restrictive supervision in these settings to improve access to care. Direct or
personal supervision is typically not required for preventive services in public health
programs.
Q3: Which of the following procedures is a dentist legally permitted to delegate to a
registered dental hygienist?
A. Diagnosis of periodontal disease and formulation of a treatment plan
B. Coronal polishing performed by a dental assistant who is not a licensed RDH
C. Scaling and root planing after the dentist has diagnosed the condition
D. Permanent restoration of a Class II cavity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Scaling and root planing is a core duty of dental
hygiene that dentists may delegate to licensed hygienists, provided the dentist has first
examined the patient and made the diagnosis. Diagnosis and treatment planning are the
sole responsibility of the dentist and cannot be delegated. While some states allow
coronal polishing by non-RDH assistants under specific conditions, that is not a
delegated duty of a hygienist—it is an assistant function. Permanent restorations are
never within the hygienist's scope of practice.
Q4: A hygienist's license renewal is due. Which of the following is typically required by
state dental boards for continuing education?
A. 12 CE hours every two years, with no specific topic requirements
B. A specific number of CE hours, often including live courses and infection control, with
a timeframe set by the state board
C. CE is optional for experienced hygienists with more than 10 years of practice
D. Only online self-study courses are accepted for license renewal
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. State dental boards set specific continuing education
requirements for license renewal, which usually include a minimum number of hours
(commonly 12–24 hours per renewal cycle), and many states mandate that some of
those hours be completed through live, interactive courses rather than self-study alone.
Infection control, CPR, and sometimes jurisprudence are frequently required topics. CE
is never optional—every licensed hygienist must complete the required hours to
maintain an active license.
Q5: Which of the following best describes "direct supervision" in dental practice?
A. The dentist is available by phone and has given written instructions for the procedure
B. The dentist is physically present in the dental office or facility, has examined the
patient, and remains on the premises while the hygienist performs the procedure
C. The dentist has delegated duties to the hygienist and does not need to be in the
building
D. The dentist personally performs the procedure alongside the hygienist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Direct supervision means the dentist is physically
present in the facility, has personally examined the patient, and remains on the premises
while the hygienist performs delegated procedures. This is the most restrictive
supervision level and is typically required for certain expanded functions or when the
patient has not been previously examined by the dentist. General supervision allows the
dentist to be off-site, and personal supervision requires the dentist to be in the operatory
itself.
Q6: An RDH is asked by the dentist to place sealants on a patient. The dentist examined
the patient three months ago and left a standing order. What supervision level is this?
A. Direct supervision, because the dentist must be present for all sealant placement
B. General supervision, because the dentist has previously examined the patient and
authorized the procedure
C. Personal supervision, because sealants are considered a surgical procedure
D. No supervision is needed for sealants in any setting
Jurisprudence, Professional Ethics & Legal Responsibilities
Complete Questions and Answers Detailed Rationales Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Dental Practice Act & Scope of Practice
Q1: Under general supervision, a registered dental hygienist may perform which of the
following?
A. Diagnose dental caries and develop a treatment plan for the patient
B. Administer local anesthesia after the dentist has examined the patient and left
written instructions
C. Perform surgical extraction of a permanent tooth
D. Place a permanent amalgam restoration without a dentist's prior examination
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Under general supervision, the dentist does not need to
be physically present but must have examined the patient first and provided written
instructions or a standing order. Local anesthesia administration is a delegated
expanded function that many states permit under general supervision once the dentist
has done the initial exam. Remember that diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical
extractions, and permanent restorations are outside the scope of dental hygiene
practice and cannot be delegated to a hygienist under any supervision level.
Q2: A dental hygienist working in a school-based sealant program in a Dental Health
Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA) is operating under which supervision level?
A. Direct supervision only, with the dentist on-site at all times
B. Personal supervision, with the dentist physically present in the operatory
C. General supervision or direct access, depending on the state practice act
,D. No supervision is required in public health settings
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Many states allow hygienists in public health settings
like school-based sealant programs and mobile clinics to work under general
supervision or even direct access statutes, especially in designated shortage areas. The
Dental Practice Act in your state will specify which level applies, but the trend has been
toward less restrictive supervision in these settings to improve access to care. Direct or
personal supervision is typically not required for preventive services in public health
programs.
Q3: Which of the following procedures is a dentist legally permitted to delegate to a
registered dental hygienist?
A. Diagnosis of periodontal disease and formulation of a treatment plan
B. Coronal polishing performed by a dental assistant who is not a licensed RDH
C. Scaling and root planing after the dentist has diagnosed the condition
D. Permanent restoration of a Class II cavity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Scaling and root planing is a core duty of dental
hygiene that dentists may delegate to licensed hygienists, provided the dentist has first
examined the patient and made the diagnosis. Diagnosis and treatment planning are the
sole responsibility of the dentist and cannot be delegated. While some states allow
coronal polishing by non-RDH assistants under specific conditions, that is not a
delegated duty of a hygienist—it is an assistant function. Permanent restorations are
never within the hygienist's scope of practice.
Q4: A hygienist's license renewal is due. Which of the following is typically required by
state dental boards for continuing education?
A. 12 CE hours every two years, with no specific topic requirements
B. A specific number of CE hours, often including live courses and infection control, with
a timeframe set by the state board
C. CE is optional for experienced hygienists with more than 10 years of practice
D. Only online self-study courses are accepted for license renewal
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. State dental boards set specific continuing education
requirements for license renewal, which usually include a minimum number of hours
(commonly 12–24 hours per renewal cycle), and many states mandate that some of
those hours be completed through live, interactive courses rather than self-study alone.
Infection control, CPR, and sometimes jurisprudence are frequently required topics. CE
is never optional—every licensed hygienist must complete the required hours to
maintain an active license.
Q5: Which of the following best describes "direct supervision" in dental practice?
A. The dentist is available by phone and has given written instructions for the procedure
B. The dentist is physically present in the dental office or facility, has examined the
patient, and remains on the premises while the hygienist performs the procedure
C. The dentist has delegated duties to the hygienist and does not need to be in the
building
D. The dentist personally performs the procedure alongside the hygienist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Direct supervision means the dentist is physically
present in the facility, has personally examined the patient, and remains on the premises
while the hygienist performs delegated procedures. This is the most restrictive
supervision level and is typically required for certain expanded functions or when the
patient has not been previously examined by the dentist. General supervision allows the
dentist to be off-site, and personal supervision requires the dentist to be in the operatory
itself.
Q6: An RDH is asked by the dentist to place sealants on a patient. The dentist examined
the patient three months ago and left a standing order. What supervision level is this?
A. Direct supervision, because the dentist must be present for all sealant placement
B. General supervision, because the dentist has previously examined the patient and
authorized the procedure
C. Personal supervision, because sealants are considered a surgical procedure
D. No supervision is needed for sealants in any setting
