A dental hygienist may provide dental hygiene services without direct supervision under which condition?

A dental hygienist may provide dental hygiene services without direct supervision primarily when a dentist has performed a personal evaluation on the patient. This condition ensures that the dentist has assessed the patient's overall dental health and determined a care plan before the hygienist carries out any procedures. This pre-existing evaluation is crucial for ensuring patient safety and maintaining a standard of care in dental practice.

The evaluation confirms that the dentist has established a professional relationship with the patient and is fully aware of their dental condition, which is fundamental when allowing a hygienist to work independently for certain procedures. This autonomy in practice is supported by regulations in many jurisdictions that allow hygienists to work without direct supervision under specific conditions for patient care continuity.

Other options, while possibly relevant in different contexts, do not typically confer the same level of independence for a dental hygienist as what is provided through a personal evaluation by the dentist.