California Codes, Business and Professions Code - BPC, Division 2 — Healing Arts, Chapter 4 — Dentistry, Article 9 — Dental Hygienists, Section 1902

For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Dental hygiene board” means the Dental Hygiene Board of California.

(b) “Dental board” means the Dental Board of California.

(c) “Direct supervision” means the supervision of dental procedures based on instructions given by a licensed dentist who is required to be physically present in the treatment facility during the performance of those procedures.

(d) “General supervision” means the supervision of dental procedures based on instructions given by a licensed dentist who is not required to be physically present in the treatment facility during the performance of those procedures.

(e) “Oral prophylaxis” means preventive and therapeutic dental procedures that include bacterial debridements with complete removal, supra and subgingivally, of calculus, soft deposits, plaque, and stains, and the smoothing of tooth surfaces. The objective of this treatment is to create an environment in which the patient can maintain healthy hard and soft tissues.