Minnesota Dental Jurisprudence Practice Exam

Which of the following is a function that dental hygienists are authorized to perform?

1. Diagnosing dental diseases

2. Making dental treatment plans

3. Providing local anesthesia

4. Prescribing medications

The correct answer is: Providing local anesthesia

Dental hygienists in Minnesota are authorized to provide local anesthesia as part of their scope of practice. This function is essential because it allows them to ensure patient comfort during dental hygiene procedures. The state includes this competency in the training and licensure requirements for dental hygienists, recognizing the importance of pain management in dental care. In contrast, diagnosing dental diseases is primarily within the purview of dentists, as they have the training and licensure to conduct comprehensive examinations and make clinical judgments. Making dental treatment plans also typically falls outside the hygienist's responsibilities, as it involves evaluating a patient's overall oral health and determining the scope of dental procedures to be performed, which is a competence designated for dentists. Similarly, prescribing medications is a function strictly regulated and reserved for licensed practitioners, mainly dentists and physicians, to ensure proper management of medications based on patient evaluations and medical histories.