Oral health is crucial for overall well-being. Dentists, dental assistants, and dental hygienists play a major role in maintaining oral health for patients in California. These professionals care for people's jawbones, gums, teeth, and other underlying structures in the mouth. With their help, people can enjoy healthy, solid, and beautiful teeth for life. They work together to offer quality dental care.
If you are a dentist, dental assistant, or dental hygienist, you must have invested years in training and acquiring experience to master the skills and perform well in this field. The Dental Board of California must ensure people receive dental services only from qualified dentists. Unfortunately, losing everything you have worked hard for can take one complaint or error. You should seek help from an experienced license defense attorney if your license is at risk. At the San Luis Obispo License Attorney, we have experienced attorneys who can safeguard your professional license and negotiate the best possible outcomes in administrative hearings.
The Dental Board Of California
You must complete your training program and take a licensing examination to become a dentist, a dental assistant, or a dental hygienist. The Dental Board is mandated to regulate the practice of dental workers. The crucial duties of the board include:
Addressing Misconduct By Professionals
The Dental Board's duty is to receive complaints and punish dental professionals appropriately. A colleague, an employer, or a patient who witnessed the violation can report the misconduct.
Advocating For Clients
As a dentist, dental assistant, or dental hygienist, you must ensure clients' oral health and well-being. You may be required to carry out sensitive treatment, cosmetic, and restorative procedures in your practice.
The Dental Board advocates for the safety and well-being of clients in addition to its licensing and regulatory functions. The board does this by taking the necessary steps to educate people regarding dental health and acceptable standards of care. Patients can raise concerns with the board about the safety and suitability of the dental services provided.
Setting Benchmarks
The Dental Board formulates various laws to standardize dental practice. These standards constitute multiple aspects, including codes of professional conduct and ethical principles. You must comply with all the standards the board sets to avoid disciplinary actions like revocation or suspension of your license.
Upholding Accountability
In the dental field, accountability is crucial, and the board ensures that each professional follows the required accountability standards. When your actions or failure to act violate the necessary standards, the board will launch an investigation and take the necessary disciplinary measures.
Fostering Continued Education
The Dental Board acknowledges that dentistry is constantly evolving. For this reason, licensed professionals should undergo continued education. Professionals can stay updated with the latest advancements in different courses. This helps to maintain competency in the dental field. Sometimes, you can be ordered to undergo an additional course if you are reported to the board for incompetence or are found to be in violation.
Licensing Qualified Professionals
The Dental Board is a gateway for dentists, dental assistants, and dental hygienists seeking to practice in California. The board licenses professionals who have completed training and passed their licensing exams. It also gives licenses to dental hygienists and dental assistants in the jurisdiction. A license is your ticket to provide private dental services or seek employment.
The Role Of Dental Workers
Dentists, dental assistants, and dental hygienists provide some of the most essential services. These professionals ensure that people enjoy a healthy and beautiful smile and that their teeth and gums are always functional. Advancements in technology have improved dental services because dental workers can use state-of-the-art tools and equipment to provide better dental services. In this case, dental workers require quality skills and experience to carry out their duties. These professionals must diagnose precisely and carry out various dental procedures with proper knowledge.
The Role Of Dental Hygienists
When preparing patients for dental procedures, dental hygienists must be careful. For example, they must be cautious when administering anesthesia and administer the proper dosages. Typically, dental hygienists perform the following duties:
- Reviewing patient's dental charts and oral health history
- Applying fluoride treatments
- Deep teeth cleaning
- Examining the gums and teeth for signs of oral disease
- Advising dentists on specific dental concerns
- Updating dental health files of patients
- Taking teeth impressions for dental casts
- Carrying out non-surgical gum procedures like root planing
As a dental hygienist, your roles are crucial in dentistry. Your registration and license require you to ensure that patients maintain proper oral health. You can do this by encouraging them to practice good oral health. This can help patients avoid serious dental issues like cavities and periodontal disease.
Dental hygienists are also responsible for helping dentists remove plaque, tartar, and stains from patients' teeth. You can apply sealants and fluoride to the patient's teeth to protect them from damage. These duties require you to work closely with the patient and their families. A small error or misunderstanding can cause a big problem, negatively impacting your license and career.
The Role Of Dental Assistants
Dental assistants, on the other hand, work closely with dentists. Their duty is crucial in the dental office. Generally, a certified dental assistant must ensure the dentist has everything required to care for a patient. For example, a dental assistant must ensure the dentist has the necessary tools. Dental assistants can also serve the patients in the absence of the dentist. However, he/she can only do this for minor treatments.
You must ensure that patients are emotionally and physically prepared for treatment. You can answer their questions to prepare them for what to expect and calm their anxiety. A dental assistant should also sterilize the dentist's tools for treatment. The other roles of a dental assistant include:
- Advising patients on the proper oral healthcare after different dental procedures
- Handling patient communications, like appointment booking and scheduling
- Developing and executing infection control after dental procedures
- Maintaining dental records
The Role Of Dentists
Dentists give patients instructions and provide oral health guidance. They offer restorative, preventive, and cosmetic care to ensure a beautiful and healthy smile. A dentist's duty generally includes dental examinations of the teeth, gums, and head area. They also diagnose and treat dental complications.
Dentists and dental assistants also deal with issues outside their work, including billing insurance companies. A mistake or a misunderstanding when carrying out these roles can result in severe consequences. A competent license attorney understands the scope of dental work and how important it is to keep a dental worker in operation.
Sometimes, patients cannot differentiate between dentists, dental assistants, and dental hygienists. Patients often have irrational expectations or quickly judge these professionals based on their expected outcomes. A dental worker can make a mistake, and the patient makes it appear more severe than it is.
Regardless of what happened, you deserve a second chance or an opportunity to defend your license. You can lose what you have worked hard to achieve for years if you do not act fast. If you face accusations that can lead to revocation or suspension of your license, you should work closely with an experienced license attorney. An attorney will help you continue doing what you enjoy and earn a living.
The Possible Allegations And Complaints You Can Face As A Dental Worker
The Dental Board sets guidelines for all licensed dental workers to comply with to ensure effective and safe client services. The following accusations can put your license in jeopardy:
- Receiving or accepting rebates
- Misrepresentation of disciplinary action taken against you to patients
- Permitting unlicensed professionals to operate X-ray machines
- Keeping your dental office in dirty condition that can impact the health of the patient
- Administration of anesthesia without a license
- Keeping misleading or false records on patient care or financial matters
- Practicing with a suspended license or unlicensed practice
- Permitting assistants to work under you without the necessary certification or license
- Failure to treat patients in genuine need of care
- Billing and insurance fraud, which result in illegal financial gain and cause loss to the health insurance company
- Excessive prescription of medication, risking drug abuse and dependency in patients
- Failing to report the death of a patient under your care, violating the board's code of ethics
- Misleading or false advertisements, like providing or exaggerating the effectiveness of your treatment procedures
Patients or the public can also accuse you of:
Criminal Convictions
Criminal charges that can lead to severe professional punishment can include:
- Lewd acts with a minor under PC 288
- Burglary
- Driving under the influence VC 23152
- Receiving stolen property PC 496
Violation Of Probation Conditions
If you are placed on license probation, you can continue to practice as a dental worker. The board can impose conditions to which you must adhere. If you fail to adhere to probation conditions, you can face harsher disciplinary action.
Drug And Substance Abuse
Drug dependency can affect your ability to provide the right services to your clients.
Gross Negligence
Gross negligence can put the safety and well-being of patients at risk. These actions can include:
- Delayed treatments
- Failure to carry out thorough assessments before procedures
- Carrying out procedures beyond the scope of patient permission
- Improper hygiene practices
Sexual Abuse Of Patients
The board does not allow sexual encounters or relationships between dentists, dental assistants, and their patients.
The Board's Disciplinary Process
The board follows a designated procedure when enforcing professional license punishment for dental workers accused of misconduct. When allegations of misconduct are made against you, you can go through the following steps:
The Complaint
The board's disciplinary process starts when a complaint is filed against you. The Dental Board receives many accusations regarding different professionals from law enforcement departments, insurance companies, patients, or their families. The allegations are submitted through the complaint unit, the board's website, and email.
Investigation
The board will perform an initial review after receiving a complaint against you. This will help the board to determine if there is a basis for the complaint. The board will appoint an investigator to gather more evidence to support the accusations leveled against you. Interviewing the complainant can make the first phase of your case. Other witnesses can also be questioned. The board will also provide subpoenas for documents and sites requiring extra investigation.
Your Response
The board will notify you during the investigation phase of your case. It can be stressful if you learn that you are under investigation by your professional licensing board. You must, however, respond to fight the accusations. Your interactions with the board can dictate the outcome of your case after receiving the notice. It is, therefore, important to have expert legal insight.
Stipulated Agreement
The board can propose an agreement to bypass the formal hearing if it has sufficient evidence to support the claims against you. If you agree, you accept the liability for misbehavior and agree to the punishment. However, your attorney can negotiate a lesser sentence to allow you to retain your license.
Formal Hearing
The board will schedule and hold an administrative hearing if a stipulated hearing is not offered or you do not accept it. You can defend yourself against the allegations after presenting your case to the administrative law judge. A reliable attorney will help protect your rights and represent your best interests.
Final Decision
The board will review the evidence in your case after a formal hearing. They will then make the final ruling afterward. The board can impose disciplinary action on you or dismiss your case. This will, however, depend on the nature of your offense. You can file an appeal if you are unsatisfied with the board's decision.
Appeal
You must file an appeal within 60 days of the board's final decision.
Find a Skilled License Attorney Near Me
Are you a dentist, dental assistant, or dental hygienist, and is your professional license at risk? You must act fast and seek the counsel of an experienced attorney. Only go for an attorney who understands dental license defense and has handled similar cases before. At the San Luis Obispo License Attorney, we have experienced attorneys who can represent you and defend your professional license. You can count on our expertise, no matter how intricate the allegations against you. Contact us at 805-465-2766 to speak to one of our attorneys.
