Terms Used In Nebraska Statutes > Dentistry Practice Act

• Accredited dental assisting program: means a program that is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, which is an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education as an accrediting body, that is within a school or college approved by the board, and that requires a dental assisting curriculum of not less than one academic year. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1102.01
• Accredited dental hygiene program: means a program that is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, which is an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education as an accrediting body, that is within a school or college approved by the board, and that requires a dental hygiene curriculum of not less than two academic years. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1103
• Accredited school or college of dentistry: means a school or college approved by the board and accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, which is an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education as an accrediting body. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1104
• Action: shall include any proceeding in any court of this state. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
• Analgesia: means the diminution or elimination of pain in the conscious patient. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1105
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Any person: shall be deemed to be practicing dentistry who:

  (1) Performs, or attempts or professes to perform, any dental operation or oral surgery or dental service of any kind, gratuitously or for a salary, fee, money, or other remuneration paid, or to be paid directly or indirectly, to such person or to any other person or agency who is a proprietor of a place where dental operations, oral surgery, or dental services are performed. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1115

• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
• Attorney: shall mean attorney at law. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
• Board: means the Board of Dentistry. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1106
• Chambers: A judge's office.
• Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
• Company shall: include any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint-stock company, joint venture, or association. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Decedent: A deceased person.
• Deep sedation: means a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which (1) a patient cannot be easily aroused but responds purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation, (2) the ability to independently maintain ventilatory function may be impaired, (3) a patient may require assistance in maintaining a patent airway and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate, and (4) cardiovascular function is usually maintained. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1106.01
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Dental assistant: means a person who does not hold a license under the Dentistry Practice Act and who is employed for the purpose of assisting a licensed dentist in the performance of his or her clinical and clinical-related duties as described in section Nebraska Statutes 38-1107
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Expanded function dental assistant: means a licensed dental assistant who has met the requirements to practice as an expanded function dental assistant pursuant to section Nebraska Statutes 38-1107.01
• Expanded function dental hygienist: means a licensed dental hygienist who has met the requirements to practice as an expanded function dental hygienist pursuant to section Nebraska Statutes 38-1107.02
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
• General anesthesia: means a drug-induced loss of consciousness during which (1) a patient is not arousable, even by painful stimulation, (2) the ability to independently maintain ventilatory function is often impaired, (3) a patient often requires assistance in maintaining a patent airway and positive pressure ventilation may be required because of depressed spontaneous ventilation or drug-induced depression of neuromuscular function, and (4) cardiovascular function may be impaired. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1108
• General supervision: means the directing of the authorized activities of a dental hygienist or dental assistant by a licensed dentist and shall not be construed to require the physical presence of the supervisor when directing such activities. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1109
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
• Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
• In forma pauperis: In the manner of a pauper. Permission given to a person to sue without payment of court fees on claim of indigence or poverty.
• Indirect supervision: means supervision when the licensed dentist authorizes the procedure to be performed by a dental hygienist or dental assistant and the licensed dentist is physically present on the premises when such procedure is being performed by the dental hygienist pursuant to section Nebraska Statutes 38-1110
• Inter vivos: Transfer of property from one living person to another living person.
• Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Jurisprudence: The study of law and the structure of the legal system.
• Juror: A person who is on the jury.
• Licensed dental assistant: means a dental assistant who holds a license to practice as a dental assistant under the Dentistry Practice Act. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1111.01
• Licensed dental hygienist: means a person who holds a license to practice dental hygiene under the Dentistry Practice Act. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1111.02
• Minimal sedation: means a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which (1) a patient retains the ability to independently and continuously maintain an airway and respond normally to tactile stimulation and verbal command, (2) cognitive function and coordination may be modestly impaired, and (3) ventilatory and cardiovascular functions are unaffected. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1112
• Mistrial: An invalid trial, caused by fundamental error. When a mistrial is declared, the trial must start again from the selection of the jury.
• Moderate sedation: means a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which (1) a patient responds purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation, (2) no intervention is required to maintain a patent airway and spontaneous ventilation is adequate, and (3) cardiovascular function is usually maintained. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1113
• Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
• Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
• Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
• Person: shall include bodies politic and corporate, societies, communities, the public generally, individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and associations. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
• Person shall: include bodies politic and corporate, societies, communities, the public generally, individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and associations. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
• Personal property: All property that is not real property.
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
• State: when applied to different states of the United States shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories organized by Congress. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Testate: To die leaving a will.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• United States: shall include territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
• Violate: shall include failure to comply with. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
• Year: shall mean calendar year. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801