PSI CA DENTAL LAW AND ETHICS
(2025/2026) EXAM QUESTION AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Your son is not an employee at your practice but is frequently there
after soon because your spouse is working at her office. To entertain
your son, you allow him to use your credentials to sign into your
desktop computer and play video games. - ---- Answers----Your son
should have his own user name and login credentials that prevent him
from having administrative privileges on your network while also
logging his behavior
While you are out of the office your hygienist is performing a prophy.
During the prophy, a temporary crown you fabricated was dislodged
from 19. - ----Answers----Your RDH should call you to inform you of
the situation, you can then advise the RDAEF on site to recement the
temporary crown
Ashley is 17 years old and presents to your dental office for a limited exam
with her mother. Ashley's mother is away from the operatory when
Ashely reports that she is HIV positive.
When asked if her mother knew of Ashley's condition, the patient replies
"no, and I do not want to tell her". You should. -
----Answers----Document Ashley's HIV status in her health history. Do
not inform the mother
While extracting number 12 a small fragment of the buccal root fractures in
the apical 1/3. You estimate that the root tip is less
,than 3 mm in length and attempt to retreive it. Your attempts to
retreave the root tip are not successful. You expect the remaining root
tip to be inconsequential. - ----Answers---- You should inform the
patient of the complication and your exceptions with regarding to the
presence of a root tip
A minor patient presents to your office as an emergency accompanied
by his basketball coach. During practice the patient was hit by
another player. The trauma resulted in an enamel-dentin fracture
without pulpal invovlement. You are unable to contact the patient's
parents. The coach has stored the tooth fragment in a container of
milk. - ----Answers---- Assuming the tooth fragment can be re-
approximated to the fracture, you should bond the fragment in place
with resin
You have agreed to be an associate at an office where you are the only
dentist. The office uses paper charts and film x-rays. How should you
identify yourself in the dental chart? - ---- Answers----Write your
license number (ID) and initials at the end of each clinical note
Your office is entirely paperless. How should you backup your patients'
records? - ----Answers----Encrypted off-site backup
Today, an associate has given her 30 day notice to leave a practice for a
new job. The practice owner tells her that her services will not be
needed after today and he will handle her schedule while he finds a new
associate. - ----Answers---- The associate should provide the owner with
any pertinent information to ensure the continuity of patient care, but has
not other obligation to the practice's patients
A dentist offers all non-insured patients 30% off the usual and customary
fee schedule he submits to insurance. This results in fees to non-insured
patients are are often lower than what insured patients are billed. - ----
Answers----This dentist in committing insurance fraud by overbilling
insurance
,Your daughter is at your office after school while you're working.
Since she has homework to do, you give her access to your computer in
your office where she browses the internet. - ----Answers----Determine
what websites were accessed and if patient data was compromised
before taking any further action
In April, you wrote prescription for a 5 day supply of hydrocodone for a
patient who needed number 28 extracted. In June, the patient returns to
your office reporting pain at number 28 due to a chronic apical abscess.
You decide to write a prescription for Amoxicillin and a 2 day supply of
hydrocodone to offer relief until he sees the oral surgeon you referred
him to. In this case: - ----Answers----You need to check CURES within
24 hours before writing the Rx
Paul is 16 years old and had his wisdom teeth extracted 4 weeks ago.
Paul and his mom keep returning to your office for post-op checks
because Paul has developed a severe case of dry socket. You suspect
that Paul is smoking heavily and ask him about his habit. Paul
reluctantly admits he smokes at least
2 cigarettes a day after school with a few friends. - ---- Answers-
---Discuss with Paul why smoking cessation is important for the
resolution of his condition
While preparing a tooth for a crown, you determine that crown
lengthening is indicated. During your initial exam, you had not discussed
the possibility of crown lengthening with the patient, what should you do
- ----Answers----You should stop and discuss your findings with the
patient and determine how the patient would like to proceed
A patient presents to your office on Monday with irreversible pulpitis.
You initiate endodontic therapy and place calcium hydroxide. You
schedule the patient to return in two weeks to obturate the canals. The
patient has started a new job and his dental insurance policy begins on
Friday. - ----Answers---- You should bill the insurance for the root
canal when it is completed but include the start date of treatment to
, note that it was in progress before the policy was in place
You had to leave the office early due to a family emergency. Your
hygienist had 2 patients left on the schedule and the last patient requires
scaling and root planing. - ----Answers---- None of the above
Your patient has relocated out of state and has requested that you send
his records to his new dentist. Before sending the records to the new
office, what should you do? - -------------------------------------------------
Answers-
---Obtain a written release of records from the patient and
send a copy of the chart to the new office in a way that maintains
HIPAA compliance
You are covering for a colleague while he is on vacation and have
agreed to allow his patients to present to your office for any
emergencies that arise while he is away. You see one of his patients
and the patient likes your office more. The patient then asks to become
a patient of yours. - ----
Answers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You
can accept this patient as a new patient in your office
An insured patient presents to your office needed a root canal. He cannot
afford the root canal and you decide to offer him a discount. You
should. - ----Answers----You must inform the insurance company of the
discount
A new patient presents to your office for a limited exam due to pain at
number 3. You conclude that the patient needs number 3 removed, but
he also has several other teeth that need treatment. The patient is a
patient of record at another nearby office that is closed today; which is
why he called you - ---- Answers----Provide treatment as needed.
Inform the patient of all your findings and recommend that he return to
his dentist for a full examination and treatment
(2025/2026) EXAM QUESTION AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Your son is not an employee at your practice but is frequently there
after soon because your spouse is working at her office. To entertain
your son, you allow him to use your credentials to sign into your
desktop computer and play video games. - ---- Answers----Your son
should have his own user name and login credentials that prevent him
from having administrative privileges on your network while also
logging his behavior
While you are out of the office your hygienist is performing a prophy.
During the prophy, a temporary crown you fabricated was dislodged
from 19. - ----Answers----Your RDH should call you to inform you of
the situation, you can then advise the RDAEF on site to recement the
temporary crown
Ashley is 17 years old and presents to your dental office for a limited exam
with her mother. Ashley's mother is away from the operatory when
Ashely reports that she is HIV positive.
When asked if her mother knew of Ashley's condition, the patient replies
"no, and I do not want to tell her". You should. -
----Answers----Document Ashley's HIV status in her health history. Do
not inform the mother
While extracting number 12 a small fragment of the buccal root fractures in
the apical 1/3. You estimate that the root tip is less
,than 3 mm in length and attempt to retreive it. Your attempts to
retreave the root tip are not successful. You expect the remaining root
tip to be inconsequential. - ----Answers---- You should inform the
patient of the complication and your exceptions with regarding to the
presence of a root tip
A minor patient presents to your office as an emergency accompanied
by his basketball coach. During practice the patient was hit by
another player. The trauma resulted in an enamel-dentin fracture
without pulpal invovlement. You are unable to contact the patient's
parents. The coach has stored the tooth fragment in a container of
milk. - ----Answers---- Assuming the tooth fragment can be re-
approximated to the fracture, you should bond the fragment in place
with resin
You have agreed to be an associate at an office where you are the only
dentist. The office uses paper charts and film x-rays. How should you
identify yourself in the dental chart? - ---- Answers----Write your
license number (ID) and initials at the end of each clinical note
Your office is entirely paperless. How should you backup your patients'
records? - ----Answers----Encrypted off-site backup
Today, an associate has given her 30 day notice to leave a practice for a
new job. The practice owner tells her that her services will not be
needed after today and he will handle her schedule while he finds a new
associate. - ----Answers---- The associate should provide the owner with
any pertinent information to ensure the continuity of patient care, but has
not other obligation to the practice's patients
A dentist offers all non-insured patients 30% off the usual and customary
fee schedule he submits to insurance. This results in fees to non-insured
patients are are often lower than what insured patients are billed. - ----
Answers----This dentist in committing insurance fraud by overbilling
insurance
,Your daughter is at your office after school while you're working.
Since she has homework to do, you give her access to your computer in
your office where she browses the internet. - ----Answers----Determine
what websites were accessed and if patient data was compromised
before taking any further action
In April, you wrote prescription for a 5 day supply of hydrocodone for a
patient who needed number 28 extracted. In June, the patient returns to
your office reporting pain at number 28 due to a chronic apical abscess.
You decide to write a prescription for Amoxicillin and a 2 day supply of
hydrocodone to offer relief until he sees the oral surgeon you referred
him to. In this case: - ----Answers----You need to check CURES within
24 hours before writing the Rx
Paul is 16 years old and had his wisdom teeth extracted 4 weeks ago.
Paul and his mom keep returning to your office for post-op checks
because Paul has developed a severe case of dry socket. You suspect
that Paul is smoking heavily and ask him about his habit. Paul
reluctantly admits he smokes at least
2 cigarettes a day after school with a few friends. - ---- Answers-
---Discuss with Paul why smoking cessation is important for the
resolution of his condition
While preparing a tooth for a crown, you determine that crown
lengthening is indicated. During your initial exam, you had not discussed
the possibility of crown lengthening with the patient, what should you do
- ----Answers----You should stop and discuss your findings with the
patient and determine how the patient would like to proceed
A patient presents to your office on Monday with irreversible pulpitis.
You initiate endodontic therapy and place calcium hydroxide. You
schedule the patient to return in two weeks to obturate the canals. The
patient has started a new job and his dental insurance policy begins on
Friday. - ----Answers---- You should bill the insurance for the root
canal when it is completed but include the start date of treatment to
, note that it was in progress before the policy was in place
You had to leave the office early due to a family emergency. Your
hygienist had 2 patients left on the schedule and the last patient requires
scaling and root planing. - ----Answers---- None of the above
Your patient has relocated out of state and has requested that you send
his records to his new dentist. Before sending the records to the new
office, what should you do? - -------------------------------------------------
Answers-
---Obtain a written release of records from the patient and
send a copy of the chart to the new office in a way that maintains
HIPAA compliance
You are covering for a colleague while he is on vacation and have
agreed to allow his patients to present to your office for any
emergencies that arise while he is away. You see one of his patients
and the patient likes your office more. The patient then asks to become
a patient of yours. - ----
Answers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You
can accept this patient as a new patient in your office
An insured patient presents to your office needed a root canal. He cannot
afford the root canal and you decide to offer him a discount. You
should. - ----Answers----You must inform the insurance company of the
discount
A new patient presents to your office for a limited exam due to pain at
number 3. You conclude that the patient needs number 3 removed, but
he also has several other teeth that need treatment. The patient is a
patient of record at another nearby office that is closed today; which is
why he called you - ---- Answers----Provide treatment as needed.
Inform the patient of all your findings and recommend that he return to
his dentist for a full examination and treatment
