PSI CA Dental Law and Ethics – Questions &
Answers | Latest Update 2026 | Exam Prep
PDF | Graded A+
Dental Board of California - correct answerDivision of Department of Consumer Affairs
Dental Board of California- 15 members - correct answer8 Practicing Dentists (1 must
be a member of the faculty of any California, 1 must practice in a nonprofit community
clinic)
1 RDH
1 RDA
5 members of the public
Dental Board of California- 15 members - correct answerDentists, RDH, RDA, and 3
public members are appointed by the Governor
Of the remaining two public members, one is appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
and one by the Senate Rules Committee.
Dental Hygiene Board of California (Used to be the Dental Hygiene Committee)- 9
members - correct answer2 members of the public
1 practicing dentist
4 RDHs (including 1 RDHAP or RDHEF, and 1 RDH in academia)
1 public member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules
1 public member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
Third Party Financing
Dental Practices are required by law to have patients sign a "Credit for Dental Service
Notice." - correct answerNotice informs patients that they are using a line of credit to
finance dental services
Interruption to Patient Care - correct answerDentist (Office) owns the patient record
Patient has a right to obtain a copy of patient record
You must inform patient in writing to dismiss patient from practice
Must provide written notice that emergency care will be provided for 30 days
If Board asks for a copy of patient's record, how many days do you have to comply from
the date of receipt of request? - correct answer15 days
If a patient/patient's representative asks to review the original records, how many days
do you have to comply? - correct answer5 days
If a patient/patient's representative asks for a copy of the records, how many days do
you have to comply? - correct answer15 days
,If patient/patient's representative ask for "summary of patient's records, how many days
do you have to comply? - correct answer10 business days
If record is large, up to 30 workings days on a case-by-case basis
How long do you need to keep records for adults? (If patient is inactive or office closes)
- correct answer7 years
How long do you need to keep records for minors? - correct answerUntil patient is 19
years old or 7 years whichever is longer
Prescriptions - correct answerPrescribers of controlled substances must be registered
with CURES
A dentist who prescribes or administer schedule II controlled substance shall record: -
correct answerPt name
Pt address
Date of prescription/administration
Name of drug
Strength of drug
Quantity of drug
Why the drug was used
If you are prescribing controlled substances to minors, you must discuss with minor's
parent or guardian before issuing first opioid prescriptions: - correct answerRisks of
addiction and overdose
Increased risk of addiction if suffering both mental and substance abuse disorders
Danger of taking opioids with benzodiazepine, alcohol, or other CNS depressants
Dentists must offer a patient an RX for naloxone or other FDA-approved drugs for the
complete or partial reversal of opioid depressant with these conditions: - correct
answerDosage is 90 or more morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day
Opioids is prescribed concurrently with benzodiazepine
Pt has increased risk of overdose ( history of overdose, substance use disorder, etc.)
You have to review how to use Naloxone with minor pt's parent/guardian
If dentist dispense drugs, a record of drug acquisition and disposition must be
maintained for how long? - correct answer3 years
Dentist who choose to dispense schedule II, III, IV drugs cannot dispense more than: -
correct answer72 hour supply
Report dispensed drug to CURES database no more than 7 days after dispensing
Under General Supervision, RDA may perform the following duties: - correct
answerMouth mirror inspection of the oral cavity, to include charting of obvious lesions,
existing restorations and missing teeth
,Placement and removal of temporary sedative dressings
Under Direct Supervision, RDA may perform the following duties: - correct
answerObtain endodontic cultures
Dry canals, previously opened by the supervising dentist, with absorbent points
Test pulp vitality
Place bases and liners on sound dentin
Remove excess cement from supragingival surfaces of teeth with a hand instrument or
floss
Size stainless steel crowns, temporary crowns and bands
Fabrication of temporary crowns intra-orally
Temporary cementation and removal of temporary crowns and removal of orthodontic
bands
Placement of orthodontic separators
Placement and ligation of arch wires
Placement of post-extraction and periodontal dressings
Apply bleaching agents
Activate bleaching agents with non-laser light-curing device
Take bite registrations for diagnostic models for case study only
Coronal Polish (evidence of satisfactory completion of a board-approved course of
instruction in this function must be submitted to the board prior to an RDA performing
this function)
Removal of excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth under orthodontic treatment
by means of an ultrasonic scaler (Evidence of satisfactory completion of a board-
approved course of instruction or equivalent instruction in an approved RDA program in
this function must be submitted to the board prior to performing this function
RDAEFs can do everything an RDA can. Under Direct Supervision an RDAEF can: -
correct answerCord retraction of gingiva for impression procedures
Take impressions for cast restorations
Take impressions for space maintainers, orthodontic appliances and occlusal guards.
Prepare enamel by etching for bonding
Formulate indirect patterns for endodontic post and core castings
Fit trial endodontic filling points
Apply pit and fissure sealants
Remove excess cement from subgingival tooth surfaces with a hand instrument
Apply etchant for bonding restorative materials
Who is allowed to fabricate, adjust, cement and remove indirect provisional
restorations?
DA, RDA, RDAEF, RDA and RDAEF or All - correct answerRDA and RDAEF
Who is allowed to remove excess cement from tooth surfaces after cementing a
permanent crown? DA, RDA, RDAEF, RDA and RDAEF or All - correct answerRDA and
RDAEF
, Who can size, fit, and cement orthodontic bands? DA, RDA, RDAEF or Orthodontic
Assistant - correct answerOrthodontic Assistant
Who can place and remove rubber dams or other isolation devices? DA, RDA, RDAEF
or All - correct answerAll of the above
Under General Supervision, who can polish and contour existing amalgam restorations?
DA, RDA, RDAEF or None of the above - correct answerNone of the above (Needs
Direct Supervision)
Under General Supervision, DA can place and remove a rubber dam - correct
answerFalse
Under General or Direct Supervision, who can polish coronal surfaces of teeth?
DA, RDA, RDAEF, RDA and RDAEF - correct answerRDA and RDAEF
Who can remove sutures after inspection of the site by the dentist? DA, RDA, RDAEF
or All - correct answerAll of the above
Who can place and remove orthodontic separators?
DA, RDA, RDAEF or All - correct answerAll of the above
Who can place a wedge and remove matrices for restorative procedures? DA, RDA,
RDAEF or All - correct answerAll of the above
Who can obtain intraoral images for computer-aided design (CAD) of milled
restorations?
DA, RDA, RDH or All - correct answerRDA
It is within a dentist's scope of practice to provide dental care to animals? - correct
answerFalse
All licensees must notify the dental board within _______ days of name change - correct
answer10 days
Under General or Direct supervision, who is allowed to cure restorative materials in an
operative site with a light-curing device? DA, RDA, RDAEF, All - correct answerAll of
the Above
All of the following can place pit and fissure sealants except: DA, RDA, RDAEF, All can
place - correct answerDA
If your license were to expire, an expired dental license can be renewed within five
years of expiration by: - correct answerPaying all accumulated fees and submitting
proof that the required CE credits were earned since the license expired
Answers | Latest Update 2026 | Exam Prep
PDF | Graded A+
Dental Board of California - correct answerDivision of Department of Consumer Affairs
Dental Board of California- 15 members - correct answer8 Practicing Dentists (1 must
be a member of the faculty of any California, 1 must practice in a nonprofit community
clinic)
1 RDH
1 RDA
5 members of the public
Dental Board of California- 15 members - correct answerDentists, RDH, RDA, and 3
public members are appointed by the Governor
Of the remaining two public members, one is appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
and one by the Senate Rules Committee.
Dental Hygiene Board of California (Used to be the Dental Hygiene Committee)- 9
members - correct answer2 members of the public
1 practicing dentist
4 RDHs (including 1 RDHAP or RDHEF, and 1 RDH in academia)
1 public member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules
1 public member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
Third Party Financing
Dental Practices are required by law to have patients sign a "Credit for Dental Service
Notice." - correct answerNotice informs patients that they are using a line of credit to
finance dental services
Interruption to Patient Care - correct answerDentist (Office) owns the patient record
Patient has a right to obtain a copy of patient record
You must inform patient in writing to dismiss patient from practice
Must provide written notice that emergency care will be provided for 30 days
If Board asks for a copy of patient's record, how many days do you have to comply from
the date of receipt of request? - correct answer15 days
If a patient/patient's representative asks to review the original records, how many days
do you have to comply? - correct answer5 days
If a patient/patient's representative asks for a copy of the records, how many days do
you have to comply? - correct answer15 days
,If patient/patient's representative ask for "summary of patient's records, how many days
do you have to comply? - correct answer10 business days
If record is large, up to 30 workings days on a case-by-case basis
How long do you need to keep records for adults? (If patient is inactive or office closes)
- correct answer7 years
How long do you need to keep records for minors? - correct answerUntil patient is 19
years old or 7 years whichever is longer
Prescriptions - correct answerPrescribers of controlled substances must be registered
with CURES
A dentist who prescribes or administer schedule II controlled substance shall record: -
correct answerPt name
Pt address
Date of prescription/administration
Name of drug
Strength of drug
Quantity of drug
Why the drug was used
If you are prescribing controlled substances to minors, you must discuss with minor's
parent or guardian before issuing first opioid prescriptions: - correct answerRisks of
addiction and overdose
Increased risk of addiction if suffering both mental and substance abuse disorders
Danger of taking opioids with benzodiazepine, alcohol, or other CNS depressants
Dentists must offer a patient an RX for naloxone or other FDA-approved drugs for the
complete or partial reversal of opioid depressant with these conditions: - correct
answerDosage is 90 or more morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day
Opioids is prescribed concurrently with benzodiazepine
Pt has increased risk of overdose ( history of overdose, substance use disorder, etc.)
You have to review how to use Naloxone with minor pt's parent/guardian
If dentist dispense drugs, a record of drug acquisition and disposition must be
maintained for how long? - correct answer3 years
Dentist who choose to dispense schedule II, III, IV drugs cannot dispense more than: -
correct answer72 hour supply
Report dispensed drug to CURES database no more than 7 days after dispensing
Under General Supervision, RDA may perform the following duties: - correct
answerMouth mirror inspection of the oral cavity, to include charting of obvious lesions,
existing restorations and missing teeth
,Placement and removal of temporary sedative dressings
Under Direct Supervision, RDA may perform the following duties: - correct
answerObtain endodontic cultures
Dry canals, previously opened by the supervising dentist, with absorbent points
Test pulp vitality
Place bases and liners on sound dentin
Remove excess cement from supragingival surfaces of teeth with a hand instrument or
floss
Size stainless steel crowns, temporary crowns and bands
Fabrication of temporary crowns intra-orally
Temporary cementation and removal of temporary crowns and removal of orthodontic
bands
Placement of orthodontic separators
Placement and ligation of arch wires
Placement of post-extraction and periodontal dressings
Apply bleaching agents
Activate bleaching agents with non-laser light-curing device
Take bite registrations for diagnostic models for case study only
Coronal Polish (evidence of satisfactory completion of a board-approved course of
instruction in this function must be submitted to the board prior to an RDA performing
this function)
Removal of excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth under orthodontic treatment
by means of an ultrasonic scaler (Evidence of satisfactory completion of a board-
approved course of instruction or equivalent instruction in an approved RDA program in
this function must be submitted to the board prior to performing this function
RDAEFs can do everything an RDA can. Under Direct Supervision an RDAEF can: -
correct answerCord retraction of gingiva for impression procedures
Take impressions for cast restorations
Take impressions for space maintainers, orthodontic appliances and occlusal guards.
Prepare enamel by etching for bonding
Formulate indirect patterns for endodontic post and core castings
Fit trial endodontic filling points
Apply pit and fissure sealants
Remove excess cement from subgingival tooth surfaces with a hand instrument
Apply etchant for bonding restorative materials
Who is allowed to fabricate, adjust, cement and remove indirect provisional
restorations?
DA, RDA, RDAEF, RDA and RDAEF or All - correct answerRDA and RDAEF
Who is allowed to remove excess cement from tooth surfaces after cementing a
permanent crown? DA, RDA, RDAEF, RDA and RDAEF or All - correct answerRDA and
RDAEF
, Who can size, fit, and cement orthodontic bands? DA, RDA, RDAEF or Orthodontic
Assistant - correct answerOrthodontic Assistant
Who can place and remove rubber dams or other isolation devices? DA, RDA, RDAEF
or All - correct answerAll of the above
Under General Supervision, who can polish and contour existing amalgam restorations?
DA, RDA, RDAEF or None of the above - correct answerNone of the above (Needs
Direct Supervision)
Under General Supervision, DA can place and remove a rubber dam - correct
answerFalse
Under General or Direct Supervision, who can polish coronal surfaces of teeth?
DA, RDA, RDAEF, RDA and RDAEF - correct answerRDA and RDAEF
Who can remove sutures after inspection of the site by the dentist? DA, RDA, RDAEF
or All - correct answerAll of the above
Who can place and remove orthodontic separators?
DA, RDA, RDAEF or All - correct answerAll of the above
Who can place a wedge and remove matrices for restorative procedures? DA, RDA,
RDAEF or All - correct answerAll of the above
Who can obtain intraoral images for computer-aided design (CAD) of milled
restorations?
DA, RDA, RDH or All - correct answerRDA
It is within a dentist's scope of practice to provide dental care to animals? - correct
answerFalse
All licensees must notify the dental board within _______ days of name change - correct
answer10 days
Under General or Direct supervision, who is allowed to cure restorative materials in an
operative site with a light-curing device? DA, RDA, RDAEF, All - correct answerAll of
the Above
All of the following can place pit and fissure sealants except: DA, RDA, RDAEF, All can
place - correct answerDA
If your license were to expire, an expired dental license can be renewed within five
years of expiration by: - correct answerPaying all accumulated fees and submitting
proof that the required CE credits were earned since the license expired
