RDHAP LAW AND ETHICS EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
"Dental hygiene board" means - ANS The Dental Hygiene Board of California.
"Dental board" means - ANS The Dental Board of California.
"Direct supervision" means - ANS The supervision of dental procedures based on instructions
given by a licensed dentist who is required to be physically present in the treatment facility
during the performance of those procedures.
"General supervision" means - ANS The supervision of dental procedures based on
instructions given by a licensed dentist who is not required to be physically present in the
treatment facility during the performance of those procedures.
"Oral prophylaxis" means - ANS Preventive and therapeutic dental procedures that include
bacterial debridements with complete removal, supra and subgingivally, of calculus, soft
deposits, plaque, and stains, and the smoothing of tooth surfaces. The objective of this
treatment is to create an environment in which the patient can maintain healthy hard and soft
tissues.
The following functions may be performed by a registered dental hygienist, in addition to those
authorized pursuant to Sections 1908 to 1914, inclusive: - ANS (a) All functions that may be
performed by a registered dental assistant.
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, (b) All persons holding a license as a registered dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist in
alternative practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended functions as of December 31,
2005, are authorized to perform the duties of a registered dental assistant specified in this
chapter. All persons issued a license as a registered dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist
in alternative practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended functions on or after January
1, 2006, shall qualify for and receive a registered dental assistant license prior to performance
of the duties of a registered dental assistant specified in this chapter.
(a) The practice of dental hygiene includes: - ANS - Dental hygiene assessment and
development
- Planning, and implementation of a dental hygiene care plan.
- It also includes oral health education, counseling, and health screenings.
The practice of dental hygiene does not include any of the following procedures: - ANS (1)
Diagnosis and comprehensive treatment planning.
(2) Placing, condensing, carving, or removal of permanent restorations.
(3) Surgery or cutting on hard and soft tissue including, but not limited to, the removal of teeth
and the cutting and suturing of soft tissue.
(4) Prescribing medication.
(5) Administering local or general anesthesia or oral or parenteral conscious sedation, except
for the administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen, whether administered alone or in
combination with each other, or local anesthesia pursuant to Section 1909.
A registered dental hygienist is authorized to perform the following procedures under direct
supervision of a licensed dentist, after submitting to the dental hygiene board evidence of
satisfactory completion of a course of instruction, approved by the dental hygiene board, in the
procedures: - ANS (a) Soft-tissue curettage.
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, (b) Administration of local anesthesia.
(c) Administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen, whether administered alone or in combination
with each other.
A registered dental hygienist is authorized to perform the following procedures under general
supervision: - ANS (a) Preventive and therapeutic interventions, including oral prophylaxis,
scaling, and root planing.
(b) Application of topical, therapeutic, and subgingival agents used for the control of caries and
periodontal disease.
(c) The taking of impressions for bleaching trays and application and activation of agents with
nonlaser, light-curing devices.
(d) The taking of impressions for bleaching trays and placements of in-office, tooth-whitening
devices.
(a) A registered dental hygienist may provide, without supervision: - ANS Educational
services, oral health training programs, and oral health screenings.
A registered dental hygienist shall refer any screened patients with possible oral abnormalities
to a dentist for: - ANS a comprehensive examination, diagnosis, and treatment plan.
In any public health program created by federal, state, or local law or administered by a federal,
state, county, or local governmental entity, at a sponsored event by a sponsoring entity or at a
nonprofit organization, a registered dental hygienist may provide, without supervision: -
ANS Dental hygiene preventive services in addition to oral screenings, including, but not
limited to, the application of fluorides and pit and fissure sealants. A registered dental hygienist
practicing as described in this subdivision may submit, or allow to be submitted, any insurance
or third-party claims for patient services performed as authorized in this article.
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, Notwithstanding Section 1912, a registered dental hygienist may provide, without supervision: -
ANS Fluoride varnish to a patient
No person other than a registered dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist in alternative
practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended functions or a licensed dentist may engage
in the practice of dental hygiene or perform dental hygiene procedures on patients, including,
but not limited to, supragingival and subgingival scaling, dental hygiene assessment, and
treatment planning, except for the following persons: - ANS (a) A student enrolled in a dental
or a dental hygiene school who is performing procedures as part of the regular curriculum of
that program under the supervision of the faculty of that program.
A dental assistant acting in accordance with the rules of the dental board in performing the
following procedures: - ANS (1) Applying nonaerosol and noncaustic topical agents.
(2) Applying topical fluoride.
(3) Taking impressions for bleaching trays.
A registered dental assistant acting in accordance with the rules of the dental board in
performing the following procedures: - ANS (1) Polishing the coronal surfaces of teeth.
(2) Applying bleaching agents.
(3) Activating bleaching agents with a nonlaser light-curing device.
(4) Applying pit and fissure sealants.
A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice may practice, pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 1907, subdivision (a) of Section 1908, subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 1910, Section
4
1910.5, and Section 1926.05 as an - ANS Employee of a dentist or of another registered
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dental hygienist in alternative practice, as an independent contractor, as a sole proprietor of an
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
"Dental hygiene board" means - ANS The Dental Hygiene Board of California.
"Dental board" means - ANS The Dental Board of California.
"Direct supervision" means - ANS The supervision of dental procedures based on instructions
given by a licensed dentist who is required to be physically present in the treatment facility
during the performance of those procedures.
"General supervision" means - ANS The supervision of dental procedures based on
instructions given by a licensed dentist who is not required to be physically present in the
treatment facility during the performance of those procedures.
"Oral prophylaxis" means - ANS Preventive and therapeutic dental procedures that include
bacterial debridements with complete removal, supra and subgingivally, of calculus, soft
deposits, plaque, and stains, and the smoothing of tooth surfaces. The objective of this
treatment is to create an environment in which the patient can maintain healthy hard and soft
tissues.
The following functions may be performed by a registered dental hygienist, in addition to those
authorized pursuant to Sections 1908 to 1914, inclusive: - ANS (a) All functions that may be
performed by a registered dental assistant.
1
Page
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, (b) All persons holding a license as a registered dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist in
alternative practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended functions as of December 31,
2005, are authorized to perform the duties of a registered dental assistant specified in this
chapter. All persons issued a license as a registered dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist
in alternative practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended functions on or after January
1, 2006, shall qualify for and receive a registered dental assistant license prior to performance
of the duties of a registered dental assistant specified in this chapter.
(a) The practice of dental hygiene includes: - ANS - Dental hygiene assessment and
development
- Planning, and implementation of a dental hygiene care plan.
- It also includes oral health education, counseling, and health screenings.
The practice of dental hygiene does not include any of the following procedures: - ANS (1)
Diagnosis and comprehensive treatment planning.
(2) Placing, condensing, carving, or removal of permanent restorations.
(3) Surgery or cutting on hard and soft tissue including, but not limited to, the removal of teeth
and the cutting and suturing of soft tissue.
(4) Prescribing medication.
(5) Administering local or general anesthesia or oral or parenteral conscious sedation, except
for the administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen, whether administered alone or in
combination with each other, or local anesthesia pursuant to Section 1909.
A registered dental hygienist is authorized to perform the following procedures under direct
supervision of a licensed dentist, after submitting to the dental hygiene board evidence of
satisfactory completion of a course of instruction, approved by the dental hygiene board, in the
procedures: - ANS (a) Soft-tissue curettage.
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Page
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, (b) Administration of local anesthesia.
(c) Administration of nitrous oxide and oxygen, whether administered alone or in combination
with each other.
A registered dental hygienist is authorized to perform the following procedures under general
supervision: - ANS (a) Preventive and therapeutic interventions, including oral prophylaxis,
scaling, and root planing.
(b) Application of topical, therapeutic, and subgingival agents used for the control of caries and
periodontal disease.
(c) The taking of impressions for bleaching trays and application and activation of agents with
nonlaser, light-curing devices.
(d) The taking of impressions for bleaching trays and placements of in-office, tooth-whitening
devices.
(a) A registered dental hygienist may provide, without supervision: - ANS Educational
services, oral health training programs, and oral health screenings.
A registered dental hygienist shall refer any screened patients with possible oral abnormalities
to a dentist for: - ANS a comprehensive examination, diagnosis, and treatment plan.
In any public health program created by federal, state, or local law or administered by a federal,
state, county, or local governmental entity, at a sponsored event by a sponsoring entity or at a
nonprofit organization, a registered dental hygienist may provide, without supervision: -
ANS Dental hygiene preventive services in addition to oral screenings, including, but not
limited to, the application of fluorides and pit and fissure sealants. A registered dental hygienist
practicing as described in this subdivision may submit, or allow to be submitted, any insurance
or third-party claims for patient services performed as authorized in this article.
3
Page
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, Notwithstanding Section 1912, a registered dental hygienist may provide, without supervision: -
ANS Fluoride varnish to a patient
No person other than a registered dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist in alternative
practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended functions or a licensed dentist may engage
in the practice of dental hygiene or perform dental hygiene procedures on patients, including,
but not limited to, supragingival and subgingival scaling, dental hygiene assessment, and
treatment planning, except for the following persons: - ANS (a) A student enrolled in a dental
or a dental hygiene school who is performing procedures as part of the regular curriculum of
that program under the supervision of the faculty of that program.
A dental assistant acting in accordance with the rules of the dental board in performing the
following procedures: - ANS (1) Applying nonaerosol and noncaustic topical agents.
(2) Applying topical fluoride.
(3) Taking impressions for bleaching trays.
A registered dental assistant acting in accordance with the rules of the dental board in
performing the following procedures: - ANS (1) Polishing the coronal surfaces of teeth.
(2) Applying bleaching agents.
(3) Activating bleaching agents with a nonlaser light-curing device.
(4) Applying pit and fissure sealants.
A registered dental hygienist in alternative practice may practice, pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 1907, subdivision (a) of Section 1908, subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 1910, Section
4
1910.5, and Section 1926.05 as an - ANS Employee of a dentist or of another registered
Page
dental hygienist in alternative practice, as an independent contractor, as a sole proprietor of an
@COPYRIGHT @THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
