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Who does what in a Florida dental office

A dental visit can involve more than one person. Florida law uses specific words for those roles and puts one dentist in charge of each patient. This page sticks to the words the statute uses.

Education, not a dental practice. Florida Smile Works does not examine, diagnose, or treat.

The dentist

Section 466.003 says "'Dentist' means a person licensed to practice dentistry pursuant to this chapter." What that license covers is on What a Florida dental license covers. Read section 466.003.

The dental assistant

The same section says "'Dental assistant' means a person, other than a dental hygienist, who, under the supervision and authorization of a dentist, provides dental care services directly to a patient."

The dental hygienist

Chapter 466 is titled "Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, and Dental Laboratories," and section 466.026 treats practicing dental hygiene without "an appropriate, active license issued by the department" as a third-degree felony, just as it does for dentistry. What a hygienist may do is set out in other sections of the chapter. Start at the Chapter 466 contents index.

What supervision means

Section 466.003 defines direct supervision as "supervision whereby a dentist diagnoses the condition to be treated, a dentist authorizes the procedure to be performed, a dentist remains on the premises while the procedures are performed, and a dentist approves the work performed before dismissal of the patient."

The section also defines "irremediable tasks" as "those intraoral treatment tasks which, when performed, are irreversible and create unalterable changes within the oral cavity or the contiguous structures or which cause an increased risk to the patient."

Section 466.026 lists "Knowingly employing any person to perform duties outside the scope allowed such person under this chapter or the rules of the board" among the acts it treats as a third-degree felony. Read section 466.026.

The dentist of record

Section 466.018 says "Each patient shall have a dentist of record. The dentist of record shall remain primarily responsible for all dental treatment on such patient regardless of whether the treatment is rendered by the dentist or by another dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant." Read section 466.018.

A reader can ask any dental office who a patient's dentist of record is. Questions before treatment has that question and others.

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