The Dental Hygenius
Name the professional organization that represents dental hygienists.
The ________ is a system of moral principles and guidelines that governs the conduct of members of its professional organization.
code of ethics
Remember: guidelines are NOT enforceable by law UNLESS if it's implemented within the state practice act in which the professional practices!
What is the opposite of autonomy?
Paternalism
Parentalism
Differentiate between criminal law and civil law.
Criminal affects society
Civil affects person to person or to business
A patient's voluntary agreement to a treatment plan after details of proposed treatment have been presented and comprehended by the patient is known as ________ .
-Benefits vs risks of tx or no tx
-all reasonable alternatives discussed
--Implied
---Verbal
----Written
Can be consented to or refused. ALWAYS DOCUMENT!
The _____________ for a dental hygienist defines the range of duties they are licensed to carry out.
scope of practice
-Determined by statutes (statutory law) that is enacted by state legislatures
-Adopted by state dental boards
What is an ethical dilemma?
A problem that involves two morally correct choices or courses of action.
-May not be a single answer
-Can have more than one outcome
Briefly describe the fundamental ethical principles:
1. Autonomy
2. Beneficence
3. Nonmaleficence
4. Justice
5. Veracity
6. Fidelity
1. Autonomy - the ability of a person to make an informed, uncoerced decision
2. Beneficence – kindness, goodness
3. Nonmaleficence - doing no harm
4. Justice – fairness to all, non-discrimination
5. Veracity – truthfulness
6. Fidelity – honor commitments, keep promises
The length of time an aggrieved person has to enter lawsuits against another for an alleged injury is referred to as _____.
Statute of limitations
_____ is defined as someone’s income, occupation, and level of education.
Socioeconomic status
A formal, voluntary nongovernmental process that establishes a minimum set of standards that promote and ensure quality across education institutions is known as _______________.
accreditation
Information about a patient’s care is not to be shared without the patient’s permission due to patient ________.
confidentiality
-To release confidential information without the person's permission is an invasion of privacy (HIPAA)
- This includes: releasing patient information to an unauthorized person, such as a spouse, or discussing a patient's health history outside the scope of treatment.
List five physical indicators of physical child abuse:
Unexplained bruises, welts, burns, fractures, lacerations, abrasions, etc.
Children who are not mobile have bruising
Bruising on the back, buttocks, face, lip, mouth
Various stages of healing
Immersion burns
Infants and young toddlers rarely have accidental fractures
Delay in accessing care
1. __________ false statements that injure someone's reputation or character.
2. An office loses new patients when a patient writes a false, negative review on social media about the dentist performing unnecessary procedures, overcharging them, and lacking competence is an example of ______.
3. A hygienist vents and exaggerates about their negative experience of temping at corporate dental offices on local television ______ and now the temp agencies have a hard time finding workers for their client.
1. Defamation
2. libel
3. slander
Differentiate between at-will and term employment.
At-will employment - no legal reason to terminate or leave employment
Term employment - based on a contract with a set duration
An ethical duty for the dental hygienist is the commitment to lifelong learning.
Define lifelong learning and provide two examples of how a dental hygienist can be a lifelong learner.
Continual growth within the profession...never "arriving" to mastery!
-Keeping up with evidence-based practices and technology.
-Maintain competency (license renewal,CE)
-Learn scientific advances from new research (professional journals, conferences, etc)
-Provide evidence-based care (stay current)
-Apply ethical reasoning (following the Code)
-Ensure patient's rights and justice (volunteerism)
Lisa, pressed for time, bypassed essential sterilization steps. She failed to follow proper procedures, compromising patient safety using inadequate methods like wiping instruments with a Cavi wipe and cross-contamination between sterilization and her clinic operatory.
Which ethical core value does this breach of safety protocols undermine?
A. Confidentiality
B. Individual autonomy
C. Societal trust
D. Nonmaleficence
E. Justice and fairness
C. Societal trust
-is the best answer because not following sterilization techniques affects the entire community - The most important Prima facie duty in this case study.
A dental hygienist volunteering in a low-income community school-based sealant program is an example of the ethical value or principle of:
Beneficence: doing good, health promotion, disease prevention activities
The program itself applies to justice, The participation of the hygienist is beneficence.
Identify a core principle/value of the corresponding regulatory compliance:
1. Americans with Disabilities Act
2. Center for Disease Control
3. HIPAA
4. State licensing boards
5. Title VII Civil Rights Act
1. Americans with Disabilities Act - Justice, autonomy
2. Center for Disease Control - Societal trust, nonmaleficence, beneficence
3. HIPAA - Confidentiality, fidelity
4. State licensing boards - Societal trust, non-maleficence
5. Title VII Civil Rights Act - Justice
Differentiate between the different levels of supervision:
General
Indirect
Direct
General - the DH can provide patients with services within their scope of practice with prior authorization, but not in the presence of the dentist.
Indirect - same as above but the dental is on the premises
Direct - same as above but DDS evaluates the work after treatment
The dental hygiene process of care provides the framework to individualize the care process for each patient and identify risk factors to aid in preventing or managing oral disease.
Name the six components of the Dental Hygiene Process of Care and give an example for each component.
Assessment - collecting data: capturing x-rays, EOIO, perio assessment, caries assessment, etc.
(Dental Hygiene) Diagnosis - identifying existing or potential oral health problems that are w/in the scope of practice for the DH: oral cancer risks, CAMBRA, AAP Staging and Grading, etc.
Planning - treatment planning procedures to be completed by the DH, patient, or caregiver: recall intervals, informed consent, discussion of interventions needed, etc.
Implementation - activation of the care plan: doing the cleaning, RP, Fl tx, patient completed OHC, etc.
Evaluation - Determining whether the goal or area needs to be treated again, referred to, or continued: recall maintenance, see if changes in their behavior occur, results of care plan, etc.
Documentation - recording all aspects of the DH process of care: chronologic history, maintaining patient records, etc.
DAILY DOUBLE!
In a bustling dental clinic, two experienced dental hygienists, Sarah and Alex, find themselves at odds over the best approach to patient care.
Case Study: Mrs. Johnson, a 60-year-old retiree, visits the clinic for her regular dental cleaning. She has been a loyal patient for years. However, her financial situation has changed recently due to unexpected medical expenses. Mrs. Johnson confides in Sarah, expressing her concern about the cost of frequent dental cleanings.
1. Sarah’s Perspective: Sarah listens attentively to Mrs. Johnson’s worries. She empathizes with her financial constraints and respects her autonomy. Sarah suggests a compromise: instead of the usual biannual cleanings, they could schedule annual cleanings supplemented by diligent home care. She explains the risks and benefits, ensuring Mrs. Johnson understands her options. What ethical principle does Sarah showcase?
2. Alex’s Perspective: Alex reviews Mrs. Johnson’s dental history meticulously. He notices early signs of gum disease and potential cavities. Concerned about her oral health, he believes that more frequent cleanings are necessary. Alex worries that compromising on the cleaning schedule might lead to irreversible damage. What ethical principle does Alex showcase?
1. Sarah values patient autonomy. She appears to believe that patients should actively participate in decisions about their oral health
2. Alex is detail-oriented and meticulous and prioritizes beneficence. He belives preventative care is essential for optimal oral health
List five items on an employment application that are unlawful:
Identify if the following is an intentional tort of unintentional tort:
Abandonment
Accidental injury
Assault
Battery
Breach of Confidentiality
Defamation
False imprisonment
Improper documentation
Malpractice
Mental distress
Misdiagnosis
Misrepresentation
Supervised Neglect
Abandonment (U)
Accidental injury (U)
Assault (I)
Battery (I)
Breach of Confidentiality (I)
Defamation (I)
False imprisonment (I)
Improper documentation (U)
Malpractice (U)
Mental distress (I)
Misdiagnosis(U)
Misrepresentation (I)
Supervised Neglect (U)
According to the principle of ______, dentists should have plans in place to provide necessary treatment during emergencies, even for those without prior records at the practice.
justice