Ask anyone who has taken the Florida Laws and Rules exam what came up most, and they will say supervision. Section 466.003 defines the levels, section 466.024 and Rule 64B5-16 say which tasks fall under each, and the exam mixes them relentlessly.
The definitions
- General supervision: the dentist has authorized the procedures, which are carried out according to the dentist's diagnosis and treatment plan, but the dentist does not need to be on the premises.
- Indirect supervision: the dentist is on the premises and has authorized the procedures.
- Direct supervision: the dentist is on the premises, has examined the patient, has authorized the procedures, and approves the work before the patient leaves.
What hygienists may do under general supervision
Florida allows hygienists to perform most preventive and periodontal procedures under general supervision in a dental office, as long as the patient has been examined by the dentist within the statutory window and the dentist's authorization covers the procedures. Certain settings, such as health access settings listed in section 466.023, allow hygienists to work without a prior dental exam.
How the exam twists it
Typical patterns:
- A stem describes a dentist who "is not on the premises" and asks whether a listed task is allowed. The answer depends on whether the task is a general-supervision task and whether the patient was examined recently.
- A stem swaps "indirect" for "direct" and asks about local anesthesia, which for hygienists requires a specific certification and direct supervision.
- A stem asks about a health access setting and expects you to know the exam-free exception.
When you practice, do not memorize the task list alone. Memorize the pairing: task plus supervision level plus setting. That is the unit the exam tests.