When a dentist authorizes a procedure but is not present, this is called what?

When a dentist authorizes a procedure but is not present, it is referred to as indirect supervision. In this context, indirect supervision means that the dentist has provided direction and authorization for a dental procedure to be performed by a dental hygienist or dental assistant but is not physically present in the facility during the procedure. The dental professional performing the procedure operates independently but must still adhere to the guidelines and protocols established by the supervising dentist.

This differs from direct supervision, where the dentist is required to be on-site and observe the procedure being performed. In general supervision, while the dentist does not need to be present during the procedure, they must have authorized the procedure in advance, but it doesn’t imply the same level of oversight as indirect supervision. Non-supervised would imply that there is no supervision by a dentist at all, which does not apply in this case where authorization has been provided. Thus, identifying this scenario as indirect supervision accurately reflects the supervisory relationship between the dentist and the dental professional involved.