Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 641 - PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Chapter 51 - DENTAL SCREENING
Rule 641-51.2 - Definitions
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
"Admitting official" means the superintendent of schools or the superintendent's designated representative if a public school; if an accredited nonpublic school, the governing official of the school.
"Applicant" means any person seeking first-time enrollment in kindergarten or ninth grade in a public or accredited nonpublic elementary school or high school in Iowa.
"Dental hygienist" means a person licensed to practice as a dental hygienist.
"Dentist" means a person licensed to practice as a dentist.
"Department" means the Iowa department of public health.
"Electronic signature " means a confidential personalized digital key, code, or number that is used for secure electronic data transmission and that identifies and authenticates the signatory.
"Elementary school" means kindergarten through grade six in an Iowa school district or accredited nonpublic school.
"Gum infection " means that gum (gingival) tissue is red, bleeding, or swollen.
"High school" means grades 9 through 12 in an Iowa school district or accredited nonpublic school.
"Injury " means soft tissue laceration or a broken or dislodged tooth.
"I-Smile " means the department program designed to increase access to dental care for children and to ensure a dental home.
"I-Smile coordinator " means a designated dental hygienist who is employed by or under contract with a local public health agency to administer the I-Smile dental home program.
"Local board of health " means a county, city, or district board of health as defined in Iowa Code section 137.2.
"No obvious problems " means a child's hard and soft tissues appear to be visually healthy and there is no apparent reason for the child to be seen before the next routine dental checkup.
"Nurse" means a person licensed to practice as a registered nurse or advanced registered nurse practitioner.
"Physician " means a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery.
"Physician assistant" means a person licensed to practice as a physician assistant.
"Recorder" means a dentist, dental hygienist, physician, physician assistant, or nurse who is authorized to record screening information and sign the Certificate of Dental Screening form.
"Requires dental care " means that tooth decay or a white spot lesion is suspected in one or more teeth or that gum infection is suspected.
"Requires urgent dental care " means that obvious tooth decay is present in one or more teeth, there is evidence of injury or severe infection, or the child is experiencing pain.
"Severe infection " means excessive bleeding, swelling, or pus discharge; or an abscess.
"Signature" means an original signature, or authorized use of stamped signature, or electronic signature of a dentist, dental hygienist, physician, physician assistant, or nurse.
"Tooth decay " means a visible cavity or hole in a tooth with brown or black coloration, or a retained root.
"White spot lesion" means a demineralized area of a tooth, usually appearing as a chalky, white spot or white line near the gum line. A white spot lesion is considered an early indicator of tooth decay, especially in primary teeth.
