A dentist manages a periodontal practice with an expanded-duty dental assistant (EDDA) who has 20 years of clinical experience. The dentist diagnoses a patient with localized periodontitis, authorizes gingival curettage, and remains in the operatory to provide direct supervision while the EDDA performs the task. Is this delegation lawful?

No, because gingival curettage may only be delegated to a licensed dental hygienist.

Yes, because the assistant is an EDDA and the dentist is providing direct supervision.

No, because gingival curettage is an irremediable task that cannot be delegated.

Yes, provided the assistant has completed a Board-approved 85-hour restorative course.

Dr. Vance examines a patient, diagnoses a need for a study-cast impression, and authorizes her formally trained dental assistant to perform the procedure. Dr. Vance remains on the premises in her private office while the assistant takes the impression. However, Dr. Vance departs for a lunch meeting before the patient leaves, without approving the final impression. Assuming the impression is not being used to fabricate an intraoral restoration or orthodontic appliance, has a supervision violation occurred?

No; this specific task requires indirect supervision, which does not mandate approval before departure.

Yes; taking an impression requires the dentist to approve the work prior to the patient's departure.

Yes; study-cast impressions are classified as an irremediable task requiring a dentist’s direct execution.

No; this task requires general supervision, which allows the dentist to leave the premises entirely.

A patient returns to a dental practice for a routine prophylaxis appointment. The patient's last comprehensive clinical examination by the Florida-licensed dentist of record was exactly 26 months ago. The dentist has authorized the prophylaxis but is not present in the office today. Can the dental hygienist lawfully proceed with the prophylaxis?

No; general supervision authorizations are valid for a maximum of 24 months without a new exam.

Yes; prophylaxis is a general supervision task that requires only the initial authorization.

Yes; a hygienist may perform prophylactic services without supervision on adults of record.

No; prophylaxis requires indirect supervision, mandating the dentist's presence on the premises.

A dental hygienist who has completed the mandatory 85-hour training in remediable restorative functions is asked to complete a procedure on a pediatric patient. After the dentist prepares the tooth, the hygienist fits and contours a stainless-steel crown (SSC). Which final step is the hygienist prohibited from performing?

Applying permanent cement to secure the stainless-steel crown.

Contouring the SSC with a slow-speed handpiece.

Using hand instruments to adapt the cervical margins of the SSC.

Initialing the patient's chart to document the performance of the task.

The Florida Board of Dentistry authorizes both dental hygienists and dental assistants to become certified in remediable restorative functions (placing/packing/contouring restorations), provided they meet experience requirements and pass a mandatory course. How does the mandatory course for a dental assistant compare with the one for a dental hygienist?

The assistant course requires more total clock hours than the hygienist course.

The hygienist course requires more total clock hours than the assistant course.

Both courses are the same length because the delegable tasks are identical.

Neither rule sets a minimum number of total clock hours for its course.

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Florida Dental Laws and Rules exam · Free practice questions

Florida FDLR practice questions: Hygienist scope and delegation

Five original Florida FDLR practice questions on hygienist scope and delegation, each answered on this page with a rationale and a source.

Last updated 2026-09-21

Question 1 of 5
A dentist manages a periodontal practice with an expanded-duty dental assistant (EDDA) who has 20 years of clinical experience. The dentist diagnoses a patient with localized periodontitis, authorizes gingival curettage, and remains in the operatory to provide direct supervision while the EDDA performs the task. Is this delegation lawful?
Show the answer
Answer B: No, because gingival curettage may only be delegated to a licensed dental hygienist.
s. 466.024(6), F.S., explicitly states that a dentist may delegate gingival curettage and root planing to a dental hygienist, but not to a dental assistant. Supervision and experience do not change this statutory limit.
Common trap: Thinking "direct supervision" or "years of experience" allows an assistant to cross the hygiene line.
Source: s. 466.024, F.S. — Delegation of duties; expanded functions
Question 2 of 5
Dr. Vance examines a patient, diagnoses a need for a study-cast impression, and authorizes her formally trained dental assistant to perform the procedure. Dr. Vance remains on the premises in her private office while the assistant takes the impression. However, Dr. Vance departs for a lunch meeting before the patient leaves, without approving the final impression. Assuming the impression is not being used to fabricate an intraoral restoration or orthodontic appliance, has a supervision violation occurred?
Show the answer
Answer C: No; this specific task requires indirect supervision, which does not mandate approval before departure.
In Florida, taking impressions for study casts (not for appliance fabrication) is an indirect-supervision task. Indirect supervision (4 elements) requires the dentist to examine, diagnose, authorize, and be on-premises, but unlike direct supervision (5 elements), it does not require approval before the patient departs.
Common trap: Confusing the "on premises" requirement (Indirect) with the "approval before departure" requirement (Direct).
Source: Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-16.001 — Definitions of Remediable Tasks and Supervision Levels
Question 3 of 5
A patient returns to a dental practice for a routine prophylaxis appointment. The patient's last comprehensive clinical examination by the Florida-licensed dentist of record was exactly 26 months ago. The dentist has authorized the prophylaxis but is not present in the office today. Can the dental hygienist lawfully proceed with the prophylaxis?
Show the answer
Answer C: No; general supervision authorizations are valid for a maximum of 24 months without a new exam.
Rule 64B5-16.001 states that any authorization for remediable tasks to be performed under general supervision is valid for a maximum of 24 months, after which a new clinical examination by a Florida-licensed dentist is required.
Common trap: Treating general supervision authorizations as open-ended so long as the patient is a "patient of record."
Source: Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-16.001 — Definitions of Remediable Tasks and Supervision Levels
Question 4 of 5
A dental hygienist who has completed the mandatory 85-hour training in remediable restorative functions is asked to complete a procedure on a pediatric patient. After the dentist prepares the tooth, the hygienist fits and contours a stainless-steel crown (SSC). Which final step is the hygienist prohibited from performing?
Show the answer
Answer D: Applying permanent cement to secure the stainless-steel crown.
Rule 64B5-16.0061, F.A.C., allows trained hygienists to fit and contour SSCs under direct supervision, but explicitly states they "shall not permanently cement stainless steel crowns."
Common trap: Assuming restorative certification allows the full procedure from prep-to-finish.
Source: Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-16.0061 — Delegation of Remediable Restorative Functions to Dental Hygienists; Supervision Level; and Training and…
Question 5 of 5
The Florida Board of Dentistry authorizes both dental hygienists and dental assistants to become certified in remediable restorative functions (placing/packing/contouring restorations), provided they meet experience requirements and pass a mandatory course. How does the mandatory course for a dental assistant compare with the one for a dental hygienist?
Show the answer
Answer A: The assistant course requires more total clock hours than the hygienist course.
Rule 64B5-16.0051 sets the assistant course at 105 clock hours and Rule 64B5-16.0061 sets the hygienist course at 85 clock hours. Both cover Class I, II, III, and V restorations and fitting and contouring stainless-steel crowns. This item is keyed only to the direction of the difference, not to the hour split inside either course.
Common trap: Thinking the scope is identical so the training hours must also be identical.
Source: Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-16.0051 — Delegation of Remediable Restorative Functions to Dental Assistants; Supervision Level; and Training and…

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