What type of supervision involves a dentist authorizing and delegating services to a patient in a public health setting?

Public health supervision refers to the framework where a dentist provides specific authorization and delegations concerning dental services within a public health setting. In this model, a dentist may not be physically present during the delivery of care, but they specifically allow certain services to be performed on the basis that the dental hygienist or dental assistant is trained and qualified to carry out those tasks.

This form of supervision is particularly important in public health endeavors, such as community dental programs, where access to dental care may be expanded through the delegation of services to trained personnel. It emphasizes the role of the dentist in establishing protocols and overseeing the overall quality of care while allowing for flexibility in delivering services where they are most needed.

Other types of supervision, such as direct and general supervision, reference different levels of oversight and involvement of a dentist during procedures, but these do not encapsulate the unique requirements and settings of public health efforts where this specific type of supervision is most applicable.