Indiana Law and Ethics for Dental Professionals, 6th Edition
Course Overview
This basic-level course reviews the definitions of ethics and jurisprudence, as expounded by the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Indiana State Board of Dentistry. Regulations governing the initial and ongoing educational requirements for dentists and dental hygienists are presented, along with the penalties that may be levied for failure to comply with those regulations. Relevant state and federal laws are introduced.
The course identifies violations of the Indiana Dental Practice Act that can result in the denial, revocation, or suspension of a license. In addition to discussing the Indiana state laws that govern dental professionals, the course describes the federal regulations promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), with particular emphasis on the OSHA regulations most commonly violated by dental offices and clinics throughout the United States.
The course’s central focus is the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Of OSHA dental office inspections during the period of October 2023 through September 2024, eight inspections yielded 16 citations related to this standard, for an average of two citations per inspection (OSHA, n.d.a). In addition to presenting updates to the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, the course outlines various components of the standard that were designed to protect healthcare workers against HIV, HBV, HCV, and other pathogenic microorganisms. Special attention is given to the risk of occupational infection with these pathogens. Employers’ responsibilities regarding the Hazard Communication Standard are also included. In addition, the course presents recommendations by the Indiana State Board of Dentistry for infected healthcare workers.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Differentiate between the terms ethics and jurisprudence.
- Discuss the specific use of the five principles that guide the American Dental Association (ADA) Code of Professional Conduct.
- Explain how the laws of Indiana and the ADA Code of Professional Conduct apply to dentists and dental hygienists.
- Discuss the OSHA regulations that apply to dental offices and those that are most frequently violated.
- Describe the recommendations for infection control in dentistry of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other branches of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Discuss the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and its updates, as well as the Hazard Communication Standard.
About the Author/Presenter
Karen Hallisey-Pesa, DMD, is a general dentist and dental hygiene educator. She graduated from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont with her Bachelor of Science degree and went on to get her DMD degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She was in private practice as a general dentist for 10 years before entering the realm of dental higher education. She worked as a dental planner for over 10 years and has developed and reviewed many dental continuing education courses. She is currently the program director for a dental hygiene program.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Dental AGD Code: 555
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
