Free North Carolina Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the North Carolina Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A civil plaintiff seeks a patient's chart from the dental office after a copy was presented to a dental peer-review committee. The chart is otherwise obtainable from the office. How does the committee's review affect discovery of that original chart?

   1. A. It becomes protected wherever the office keeps a copy.
   2. B. It remains discoverable from the original office source.
   3. C. It is available only as part of the committee's record.
   4. D. It is withheld until the committee publishes its findings.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: "information, documents or records otherwise available from original sources are not to be construed as immune" Committee proceedings are confidential, but presenting an otherwise available office chart does not insulate its original source; B-D confuse committee protection with protection of independent records.

   Reference: G.S. Chapter 90, Article 2A - Dental Peer Review Protection Act — G.S. 90-48.10

2. 2A military spouse licensed as a dental hygienist in another jurisdiction applies in North Carolina while meeting endorsement requirements. That jurisdiction's licensing standards are substantially equivalent. What interim authorization must the licensing board issue under G.S. 93B-15.1(f)?

   1. A. A provisional examination license until Board test results.
   2. B. A renewal certificate for the prior jurisdiction's license.
   3. C. A clinical-practice waiver for military facilities only.
   4. D. A temporary practice permit while the application proceeds.

   Answer: D

   Explanation: "temporary practice permit to a military-trained applicant or military spouse licensed, certified, or" The statute requires a temporary permit for an eligible military spouse or military-trained applicant from a substantially equivalent jurisdiction. The other instruments address different licensing processes or do not meet this statutory interim authorization.

   Reference: G.S. Chapter 93B - Occupational Licensing Boards — G.S. 93B-15.1(f)

3. 3A North Carolina provisional hygiene license application designates one dental practice location. The supervising dentist asks the licensee to work at a different office before changing that designation. Where may the licensee practice under Rule .0102?

   1. A. Only at the dental practice location designated in the application.
   2. B. At any dental practice location operated by that supervising dentist.
   3. C. At any location listed in the dentist's annual Board report.
   4. D. At any approved public clinic using a written standing order.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "The dental hygiene practice of a provisional licensee shall be restricted to the dental practice location designated in the" The provisional-license rule ties practice to the named application location. Dentist ownership, annual reporting, and standing-order sites are different dimensions and do not expand that restriction.

   Reference: 21 NCAC 16E - Provisional Licensure — 21 NCAC 16E .0102

4. 4A hygienist completed the required local-anesthetic course more than five years before applying for certification and has not administered local anesthetics during the two years before applying. What must the hygienist do about that course?

   1. A. Complete the two annual local-anesthetic CE hours instead.
   2. B. Retake a qualifying local-anesthetic course before certification.
   3. C. Document the old course without further course work.
   4. D. Substitute ordinary license-renewal CE for the old course.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: "the applicant shall retake a course or courses meeting the requirements of G.S. 90-225.3(a)(3) before the applicant may be certified to" The course-recapture rule requires a new qualifying course when the original is older than five years unless the applicant documents two years of recent hygiene practice including block and infiltration administration; the stated facts lack that exception. Annual CE is for renewal, not this initial recency requirement.

   Reference: 21 NCAC 16G - Dental Hygienists — PDF p. 4

5. 5A North Carolina dental hygienist prepares the electronic annual license-renewal application. What is the latest submission deadline under 21 NCAC 16I .0101(a)?

   1. A. Before midnight on November 30 each year.
   2. B. Before midnight on January 31 each year.
   3. C. Before midnight on December 31 each year.
   4. D. Before midnight on February 28 each year.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: "January 31 of each year through the Board's website:" The rule sets January 31 for the electronic renewal application. The other dates are not the specified latest submission date.

   Reference: 21 NCAC 16I - Annual Renewal and Continuing Education — 21 NCAC 16I .0101(a)

6. 6The Board mails an applicant notice of a right to an administrative hearing, and this is not a contested case already noticed for hearing. If the applicant wants the hearing, when must a request be made under 21 NCAC 16N .0501(b)?

   1. A. Within 30 days after the Board's notice of the right to a hearing.
   2. B. Within 10 days after the Board's notice of the right to a hearing.
   3. C. Within 60 days after the Board's notice of the right to a hearing.
   4. D. Within 90 days after the Board's notice of the right to a hearing.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "they shall request a hearing within 30 days of the date of the" The affected person must request the hearing within 30 days of the Board's notice; the other periods are not this rule's request deadline. The request must also be in writing.

   Reference: 21 NCAC 16N - Administrative Hearing Procedures — 21 NCAC 16N .0501(b)

7. 7A North Carolina dentist plans to administer moderate conscious sedation at a facility that meets the equipment requirements. What Board authorization must the dentist already hold for that level of sedation?

   1. A. A pending application for a permit at that level of sedation.
   2. B. A facility inspection without a permit for that level of sedation.
   3. C. An expired permit formerly authorizing that level of sedation.
   4. D. An unexpired permit authorizing that level of sedation.

   Answer: D

   Explanation: "a dentist shall hold an unexpired permit issued by the Board in accordance with this" Rule .0103(a) requires an unexpired permit for the level to be administered. Facility compliance, a pending application, and a former permit do not meet the personal authorization requirement.

   Reference: 21 NCAC 16Q - General Anesthesia and Sedation — 21 NCAC 16Q .0103(a)

8. 8The Caring Dental Professionals program investigates and confirms impairment in a licensed hygienist. Under Rule .0203(a), what referral follows the intervention?

   1. A. Refer the hygienist to a second peer-review screening.
   2. B. Refer the hygienist to a Board disciplinary hearing.
   3. C. Refer the hygienist to an appropriate treatment source.
   4. D. Refer the hygienist to a practice-competency evaluation.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: "The dentist or dental hygienist shall be referred to an appropriate treatment source." After confirmed impairment, the rule calls for intervention and an appropriate treatment referral. Peer screening, discipline, and competency evaluation are different responses and do not replace treatment referral.

   Reference: 21 NCAC 16S - Caring Dental Professionals Program — 21 NCAC 16S .0203(a)

9. 9A hygienist reduces a staff member's hours because the staff member cooperated with a Board investigation of the hygienist. How does Rule .0102(5) classify the retaliatory act?

   1. A. Negligence in clinical dental-hygiene practice.
   2. B. Unauthorized practice of dental hygiene.
   3. C. Misleading advertising of professional skill.
   4. D. Unprofessional conduct by a dental hygienist.

   Answer: D

   Explanation: "retaliating in any manner against any patient or other person who testifies or cooperates with the" The act is retaliation for cooperation with a Board investigation, which Rule .0102(5) places under unprofessional conduct. It is neither a treatment error, unauthorized practice, nor a professional-skill advertisement.

   Reference: 21 NCAC 16V - Unprofessional Conduct — 21 NCAC 16V .0102(5)

10. 10A hygienist seeks initial approval to provide clinical hygiene without a dentist's direct supervision and relies on 2,000 qualifying hours rather than three years of experience. Which work history meets Rule .0101(a)(3)?

    1. A. Those hours under an out-of-state dentist during the preceding five calendar years.
    2. B. Those hours under a North Carolina licensed dentist six to ten calendar years ago.
    3. C. Those hours under an out-of-state dentist six to ten calendar years ago.
    4. D. Those hours under a North Carolina licensed dentist during the preceding five calendar years.

    Answer: D

    Explanation: "within the five calendar years immediately preceding initial approval to work without" The 2,000-hour route requires supervised prophylaxis or periodontal debridement under a dentist licensed in this State within the five calendar years before initial approval. B changes the supervisor's jurisdiction; C changes the time window; D changes both.

    Reference: 21 NCAC 16Z - Limited Supervision Hygienists — 21 NCAC 16Z .0101(a)(3)