Question 1

Which of the following is true regarding the best practice in obtaining informed consent?

Accepted Answer

Ultimately,it is the patient's decision whether to accept a procedure or not.The patient has the right to accept no treatment.

Question 2

The dental hygienist should always follow the lead direction of the supervising dentist.

Accepted Answer

Correct: It is the responsibility of the dental hygienist to educate the dentist on the supervision laws related to the practice of dental hygiene.

Question 3

Postexposure management's goal is to contain the injury to reduce the possibility of disease transmission.

Accepted Answer

Postexposure management is designed to prevent or minimize the spread of disease after exposure. Its goal is to contain the infection to lower the likelihood of transmission to others.

Question 4

The dental hygienist should report only gross negligence by a health care provider to the responsible authorities.

Accepted Answer

Correct: The dental hygienist should report any illegal activities by a health care provider to the responsible authorities.

Question 5

A dental hygienist may be charged with malpractice if he/she induces harm to the patient or if a breach of duty exists.

Accepted Answer

A dental hygienist has a duty of care towards the patient and any harm caused due to their negligence or breach of duty may lead to a malpractice charge.

Question 6

All dental facilities that employ more than 15 people must have a postexposure management protocol for occupational exposures.

Accepted Answer

Correct: All dental facilities must have a postexposure management protocol for occupational exposures.

Question 7

For a percutaneous injury,details of the incident report should include the depth of the wound,the gauge of the needle,and whether fluid was injected.

Accepted Answer

Details of a percutaneous injury incident report should include information on the depth of the wound, the gauge of the needle, and whether or not fluid was injected. This information is important for determining the potential risk of infection and the need for follow-up testing and treatment.

Question 8

What is contact of the mucous membrane with blood,saliva,tissue,or other body fluids that are potentially infectious called?

Accepted Answer

Occupational exposure is contact of the mucous membrane with blood,saliva,tissue,or other body fluids that are potentially infectious.

Question 9

The individual state licensing boards are responsible for making sure that dental hygienists maintain professional competency,credentials,and continuing educational requirement fulfillments.

Accepted Answer

Correct: The dental hygienist is responsible for making sure that he/she maintains individual professional competency,credentials,and continuing educational requirement fulfillments.

Question 10

The type of supervision in which the dentist must be physically present on the premise is called:

Accepted Answer

Indirect supervision is the type of supervision in which the dentist must be physically present on the premise.

Question 11

A dental hygienist does not necessarily need to purchase his/her own liability insurance because he/she is typically covered under the umbrella of the supervising dentist's professional liability insurance.

Accepted Answer

Correct: The dental hygienist should obtain his/her own professional liability insurance because he/she cannot rely on being covered against malpractice under the employer's insurance policy.

Question 12

The qualified health care provider corresponds directly with the exposed health care worker so as not to violate HIPPA.

Accepted Answer

Correct: The qualified health care provider corresponds and sends a written opinion to the employer as well as indicating that the exposed employee has been informed of the evaluation results and the need for further follow-up treatment,whether the HBV vaccine was indicated,and where the employee received the vaccine.All other findings are confidential.

Question 13

The dental hygienist must follow the most current postexposure guidelines set by OSHA.

Accepted Answer

Correct: The dental hygienist must follow the most current postexposure guidelines set by the U.S.Public Health Service.

Question 14

Due to the high standards of the dental hygiene curriculum,the licensed dental hygienist is prepared for any experience within the dental office.

Accepted Answer

Correct: The dental hygienist may experience unanticipated and problematic outcomes.

Question 15

Due to the scope of practice for dentist,they are more at risk for litigation.Risk management identifies methods to negotiate the risk of legal actions associated with the delivery of oral care.

Accepted Answer

Due to the scope of practice for dentist,they are more at risk for litigation.Risk management identifies preventive methods to minimize or eliminate the risk of legal actions associated with the delivery of oral care.

Question 16

Any dental history regarding a patient's psychological state as related to injections or nervousness is subjective and should not be included in dental notes.

Accepted Answer

Correct: Dental history regarding the patient's psychological state as related to injections and nervousness should be included in the patient's record.

Question 17

Any refusal of treatment by the patient and a brief statement documenting the discussion of risks associated with refusal of treatment should be documented in the patient record.

Accepted Answer

It is important to document any refusal of treatment by the patient as well as any discussion of the risks associated with the refusal in the patient record for legal and ethical reasons.

Question 18

Which of the following factors may serve to decrease the risk of possible litigation?

Accepted Answer

Minimizing misunderstandings and resolving problems as they arise during the dental hygiene treatment reduces the likelihood of lawsuits.It is important to develop a one-on-one relationship with the patient to build confidence and trust.

Question 19

Most states require the dental hygienist to apply for an additional local anesthesia license or certificate in lieu of the regular dental hygiene license to legally administer local anesthetics.

Accepted Answer

Many states require dental hygienists to obtain a separate license or certification to administer local anesthetics, in addition to their regular dental hygiene license. This additional license or certification typically requires completion of specific training and passing an exam. It is important for dental hygienists to check with their state board of dentistry to determine the specific requirements for local anesthesia administration in their state.

Question 20

What is the primary objective of dental hygiene care?

Accepted Answer

The primary objective of dental hygiene care is to assist our patients in preventing disease and maintaining oral health.

Quiz 15: Legal Considerations and Risk Management