What must a dental hygienist do to maintain compliance with regulations?

Staying updated on legal requirements is essential for a dental hygienist to maintain compliance with regulations. This includes understanding current state laws, licensing requirements, and best practices specific to the field of dental hygiene. Regulations may include infection control protocols, patient confidentiality requirements under HIPAA, and scope of practice laws that dictate what dental hygienists are permitted to do in their state. By remaining informed about these laws and regulations, dental hygienists can ensure they are practicing ethically and legally, providing safe care to their patients, and avoiding legal repercussions.

In contrast, avoiding personal branding, limiting patient interactions, and using social media for marketing do not inherently relate to compliance with regulations. While personal branding and marketing can contribute to a hygienist's professional visibility, they are not regulatory requirements. Additionally, patient interactions are central to a dental hygienist’s role and cannot be arbitrarily limited without impacting care quality and compliance with patient engagement standards.