California Law and Ethics Dental Hygiene
Study Guide Test Questions and Answers
2025/2026
When does a license expire (1935) - CORRECT ANSWER-12 midnight On the last day of the birth month
of the applicant on the second year of a 2 year term
Direct supervision - CORRECT ANSWER-A set of procedures where The dentist must physically be
present in treatment facility
General supervision - CORRECT ANSWER-Procedures where the dentist does NOT need to be physically
present in treatment facility
Oral prophylaxis - CORRECT ANSWER-Preventative and therapeutic dental procedures that include
,-- bacterial debridements with complete removal of supra and sub calculus, soft deposits, plaque and
stains. And to smooth out tooth surfaces
No person shall be allowed to practice as a dental hygenist except for what Exceptions - CORRECT
ANSWER----a student in a dental/dental hygiene school performing the curriculum.
---a dental assistant acting under the rules of the dental board may perform the following:
*taking impressions
*applying fluorides
*applying non-areosol and non caustic topical agents
--- an rda acting under the rules of the dental board my perform the following:
*coronal polishing
*applying bleaching agents
*activating bleaching agents with a non laser light curing device
*applying pit and fissure sealants
---an rdaef can apply a pit and fissure sealant
---a rdh,rdhap,rdhef that is licensed in a different juristriction that is performing a clinical demonstration
for educational purposes
What is the timeframe required to notify the board if there are any name changes or address/email
changes (1934) - CORRECT ANSWER-The board must be notified within 30 days for all living address
and email address changes
The board must be notified within 10 days of a name change
What is the purpose of the prophylaxis - CORRECT ANSWER-To create an environment for a patient to
maintain healthy hard and soft tissues
What does the practice of an rdh include - CORRECT ANSWER-Dental hygiene assessment and
development, planning and implementation of a dental hygiene plan.
It also includes oral hygiene education, counseling and health screenings
,Dental hygiene does NOT include what - CORRECT ANSWER----Diagnosing or comprehensive treatment
plans
---Placing, moving, condensing, carving, removing of permanent restorations
---surgery, or cutting on hard and soft tissue , removing teeth and cutting and suturing
--- prescribing meds
---administering local or general anesthesia or oral or parenteral conscious sedation other than nitrous
oxide and oxygen and allowed local anesthetic.
What can an rdh do under direct supervision? - CORRECT ANSWER----Soft-tissue curettage
---Administration of local anesthesia
---Administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen, whether administered in tandem or alone.
What can an rdh do under general supervision - CORRECT ANSWER---- preventative and therapeutic
interventions including : oral prophylaxis, scaling and root planing
---application of topical, therapeutic and subgingival agents used for the control of caries and
periodontal disease.
---the taking of impressions for bleaching trays and activation of non laser, light curing devices
---the taking of impressions for bleaching trays and placements of in office tooth whitening devices
What can an rdh do without any supervision - CORRECT ANSWER--Educational services
-Oral health training programs
-Oral health screenings
*rdh must refer any screened patients with abnormalities to a dentist to receive a comprehensive exam,
diagnosis and a treatment plan
In a government public health program an rdh may provide without supervision the following: -
CORRECT ANSWER--oral prophylaxis,srp.
-Fluoride application
-Pit and fissure sealants
* the rdh may submit insurance claims for the services provided under the public health programs.
, License is good for 2 years must renew prior to that day
Can you renew an expired license? (1936) - CORRECT ANSWER-Yes, it must be renewed within 5 years
of expiring by filing an application for renewal and paying accrued renewal and delinquency fees.
For what reasons may a license be revoked, suspended, or put on probations (1949) - CORRECT
ANSWER-Gross negligence,
Incompetence
Unprofessional conduct
Repeated acts of negligence
Receiving a license by mistake
Why may a licensee get their license revoked, suspended, reprimanded, or put on probation. (1950) -
CORRECT ANSWER---If they have committed a crime that is substantially related to the licensees
qualifications, functions or duties
When would the dhcc revoke, suspend, reprimand, or probate the license (1950) - CORRECT ANSWER-
*When the time to appeal has lapsed
*When the judgment for conviction has been affirmed on appeal
*When an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, allowing a person to
withdraw guilty plea and enter a plea of not guilty, or dismissing accusation, info, or indicictment--when
on probation
When would the committee undertake proceedings under this section? (1950) - CORRECT ANSWER-
upon receipt of a certified copy of the record of conviction. A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction
following a plea of nolo contendere made to a charge of a felony or of any misdemeanor related to the
licensee's qualifications, functions, or duties
Define Unprofessional conduct - CORRECT ANSWER-See law 1950.5
Study Guide Test Questions and Answers
2025/2026
When does a license expire (1935) - CORRECT ANSWER-12 midnight On the last day of the birth month
of the applicant on the second year of a 2 year term
Direct supervision - CORRECT ANSWER-A set of procedures where The dentist must physically be
present in treatment facility
General supervision - CORRECT ANSWER-Procedures where the dentist does NOT need to be physically
present in treatment facility
Oral prophylaxis - CORRECT ANSWER-Preventative and therapeutic dental procedures that include
,-- bacterial debridements with complete removal of supra and sub calculus, soft deposits, plaque and
stains. And to smooth out tooth surfaces
No person shall be allowed to practice as a dental hygenist except for what Exceptions - CORRECT
ANSWER----a student in a dental/dental hygiene school performing the curriculum.
---a dental assistant acting under the rules of the dental board may perform the following:
*taking impressions
*applying fluorides
*applying non-areosol and non caustic topical agents
--- an rda acting under the rules of the dental board my perform the following:
*coronal polishing
*applying bleaching agents
*activating bleaching agents with a non laser light curing device
*applying pit and fissure sealants
---an rdaef can apply a pit and fissure sealant
---a rdh,rdhap,rdhef that is licensed in a different juristriction that is performing a clinical demonstration
for educational purposes
What is the timeframe required to notify the board if there are any name changes or address/email
changes (1934) - CORRECT ANSWER-The board must be notified within 30 days for all living address
and email address changes
The board must be notified within 10 days of a name change
What is the purpose of the prophylaxis - CORRECT ANSWER-To create an environment for a patient to
maintain healthy hard and soft tissues
What does the practice of an rdh include - CORRECT ANSWER-Dental hygiene assessment and
development, planning and implementation of a dental hygiene plan.
It also includes oral hygiene education, counseling and health screenings
,Dental hygiene does NOT include what - CORRECT ANSWER----Diagnosing or comprehensive treatment
plans
---Placing, moving, condensing, carving, removing of permanent restorations
---surgery, or cutting on hard and soft tissue , removing teeth and cutting and suturing
--- prescribing meds
---administering local or general anesthesia or oral or parenteral conscious sedation other than nitrous
oxide and oxygen and allowed local anesthetic.
What can an rdh do under direct supervision? - CORRECT ANSWER----Soft-tissue curettage
---Administration of local anesthesia
---Administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen, whether administered in tandem or alone.
What can an rdh do under general supervision - CORRECT ANSWER---- preventative and therapeutic
interventions including : oral prophylaxis, scaling and root planing
---application of topical, therapeutic and subgingival agents used for the control of caries and
periodontal disease.
---the taking of impressions for bleaching trays and activation of non laser, light curing devices
---the taking of impressions for bleaching trays and placements of in office tooth whitening devices
What can an rdh do without any supervision - CORRECT ANSWER--Educational services
-Oral health training programs
-Oral health screenings
*rdh must refer any screened patients with abnormalities to a dentist to receive a comprehensive exam,
diagnosis and a treatment plan
In a government public health program an rdh may provide without supervision the following: -
CORRECT ANSWER--oral prophylaxis,srp.
-Fluoride application
-Pit and fissure sealants
* the rdh may submit insurance claims for the services provided under the public health programs.
, License is good for 2 years must renew prior to that day
Can you renew an expired license? (1936) - CORRECT ANSWER-Yes, it must be renewed within 5 years
of expiring by filing an application for renewal and paying accrued renewal and delinquency fees.
For what reasons may a license be revoked, suspended, or put on probations (1949) - CORRECT
ANSWER-Gross negligence,
Incompetence
Unprofessional conduct
Repeated acts of negligence
Receiving a license by mistake
Why may a licensee get their license revoked, suspended, reprimanded, or put on probation. (1950) -
CORRECT ANSWER---If they have committed a crime that is substantially related to the licensees
qualifications, functions or duties
When would the dhcc revoke, suspend, reprimand, or probate the license (1950) - CORRECT ANSWER-
*When the time to appeal has lapsed
*When the judgment for conviction has been affirmed on appeal
*When an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, allowing a person to
withdraw guilty plea and enter a plea of not guilty, or dismissing accusation, info, or indicictment--when
on probation
When would the committee undertake proceedings under this section? (1950) - CORRECT ANSWER-
upon receipt of a certified copy of the record of conviction. A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction
following a plea of nolo contendere made to a charge of a felony or of any misdemeanor related to the
licensee's qualifications, functions, or duties
Define Unprofessional conduct - CORRECT ANSWER-See law 1950.5
