New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 16 - OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
Chapter 5 - DENTISTRY (DENTISTS, DENTAL HYGIENISTS, ETC.)
Part 30 - DENTAL HYGIENISTS, DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS, LICENSE REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
Section 16.5.30.10 - GUIDELINES

(1) performing, or holding oneself out as able to perform, professional services beyond the scope of one's license and field or fields of competence as established by education, experience, training, or any combination thereof; this includes, but is not limited to, the use of any instrument or device in a manner that is not in accordance with the customary standards and practices of the dental hygiene profession;

(2) failure to advise the patient in simple understandable terms of the treatment rendered, the expectations for success, and the responsibility the patient must assume;

(3) failure to inform dentist or patient of periodontal assessment;

(4) failure to provide patient education of oral health care regimens which assist in maintaining good oral health throughout life;

(5) sexual misconduct;

(6) failure to use appropriate infection control techniques and sterilization procedures;

(7) breach of ethical standards, an inquiry into which the committee will begin by reference to the most recent version of the American dental hygienists association's code of ethics;

(8) fraud, deceit or misrepresentation in any application;

(9) violation of any order of the committee, and ratified by the board, including any probation order;

(10) injudicious administration of any drug or medicine;

(11) failure to report to the committee or board any adverse action taken by any licensing board, peer review body, malpractice insurance carrier or any other entity as defined by the board or committee, the surrender of a license to practice in another state, surrender of membership on any medical staff or in any dental hygiene or professional association or society, in lieu of, and while under disciplinary investigation by any authority;

(12) deliberate and willful failure to reveal, at the request of the committee, the incompetent, dishonest, or corrupt practices of a dentist or dental hygienist licensed or applying for licensure by the committee or board; and

(13) cheating on an examination for licensure;

(14) failure of a dental hygienist to comply with advertising rules in 16.5.1.29 NMAC;

(15) failure of a collaborative practice dental hygienists to refer a patient for dental care; or

(16) failure of a collaborative practice dental hygienist to comply with the terms of a signed collaborative practice agreement;

(17) failure of a collaborative practice dental hygienist to professionally and effectively communicate with a patients dentist of record, or consulting dentist, in a professional manner in regard to a shared patient's care under 16.5.17 NMAC of these rules;

(18) failure of a collaborative dental hygienist to comply with the advertisement rules as defined in 16.5.1.29 NMAC;

(19) failure to practice dental hygiene under the name of a corporation, company, association, limited liability company, or trade name without full and outward disclosure of his/her full name, which shall be the name used in his/her license or renewal certificate as issued by the board;

(20) failure to practice dental collaborative hygiene without displaying his/her full name as it appears on the license issued by the board on the entrance door of each office;

(21) assisting a health professional, or be assisted by a health professional that is not licensed to practice by a New Mexico board, agency or commission;

(22) conviction of either a misdemeanor or a felony punishable by incarceration;

(23) aiding and abetting a dental auxiliary who is not properly certified;

(24) patient abandonment;

(25) habitually addicted as defined in Paragraph (4) & (6) of Subsection A of Section 61.5A-21 and Subsections C and D of Section 61.5B-3 NMSA 1978 habitual or excessive use or abuse of drugs, as defined in the Controlled Substances Act, Section 30-31-1 NMSA 1978 or habitual or excessive use or abuse of alcohol;

(26) failure of the licensee to furnish the committee within 10 business days of request; its investigators or representatives with information requested by the committee, and ratified by the board;

(27) failure to appear before the board when requested by the committee, and ratified by the board, in any disciplinary proceeding; and

(28) failure to be in compliance with the Parental Responsibility Act Section 40-5A-3 seq., NMSA1978.