NBDHE NBDHE Professional Ethics and Law 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dental hygienist suspects a child patient is being abused based on observed oral and facial injuries. Which action is legally required in all U.S. states?
- Notify the child's other parent or guardian
- Report the suspicion to child protective services or law enforcement (Correct answer)
- Document the injuries and wait for a second incident before reporting
- Consult with the supervising dentist and take no further action
Correct answer: Report the suspicion to child protective services or law enforcement
Dental hygienists are mandated reporters in all U.S. states and are legally required to report suspected child abuse to child protective services or law enforcement.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of fraudulent billing in dental practice?
- Billing for a prophylaxis when a full-mouth debridement was performed (Correct answer)
- Charging a patient the copay stated in their insurance plan
- Documenting periodontal charting that was completed during the appointment
- Submitting a claim for a procedure that was performed and documented
Correct answer: Billing for a prophylaxis when a full-mouth debridement was performed
Upcoding—billing for a more expensive procedure than what was actually performed—constitutes dental fraud.
Question 3: The ADHA Code of Ethics is best characterized as:
- A legally enforceable document with disciplinary authority
- A voluntary aspirational guide for professional conduct among dental hygienists (Correct answer)
- A federal regulation governing dental hygiene practice
- A state-specific document with binding legal authority
Correct answer: A voluntary aspirational guide for professional conduct among dental hygienists
The ADHA Code of Ethics is a voluntary, aspirational document that guides professional conduct but does not carry legal enforcement authority.
Question 4: A patient discloses a history of HIV infection during their health history. The dental hygienist's legal obligation is to:
- Refuse to treat the patient due to infection risk
- Maintain confidentiality and follow standard precautions for all patients (Correct answer)
- Inform all office staff so they can take extra precautions
- Document HIV status in a location visible to all staff for safety purposes
Correct answer: Maintain confidentiality and follow standard precautions for all patients
HIV status is protected health information; the hygienist must maintain confidentiality and apply standard precautions universally, regardless of known status.
Question 5: Respondeat superior is a legal doctrine that holds which party liable for an employee's negligent acts performed within the scope of employment?
- The employee who committed the negligent act
- The state dental board
- The employer or supervising dentist (Correct answer)
- The patient who was harmed
Correct answer: The employer or supervising dentist
Under respondeat superior, employers are vicariously liable for negligent acts their employees commit within the scope of their employment duties.
Question 6: Which element is NOT required to establish dental malpractice?
- A duty of care owed to the patient
- A breach of the standard of care
- Proof that the patient disliked the treatment outcome (Correct answer)
- Causation linking the breach to patient harm
Correct answer: Proof that the patient disliked the treatment outcome
Malpractice requires duty, breach, causation, and damages—patient dissatisfaction alone is not an element of a malpractice claim.
Question 7: A dental hygienist practicing beyond their legally defined scope of practice may be subject to:
- Only a verbal warning from the supervising dentist
- License suspension or revocation by the state dental board (Correct answer)
- A civil fine paid directly to the patient
- Mandatory additional continuing education only
Correct answer: License suspension or revocation by the state dental board
Practicing outside the legally defined scope of practice can result in license suspension, revocation, or other disciplinary action by the state dental board.
NBDHE NBDHE Professional Ethics and Law 3
A dental hygienist suspects a child patient is being abused based on observed oral and facial injuries.
Which action is legally required in all U.S. states?