What type of supervision is required for placing pit and fissure sealants?

In the context of dental hygiene practice, placing pit and fissure sealants requires a level of supervision that encompasses both direct and general supervision. This means that a dental hygienist can perform the procedure either under the direct oversight of a dentist, where the dentist is physically present and can provide immediate guidance, or under general supervision, where the dentist has authorized the hygienist to perform the procedure but is not required to be present during its execution.

This flexibility allows hygienists to operate more autonomously in a clinical setting, as long as they are properly trained and have the appropriate protocols established by the supervising dentist. This dual supervision requirement aligns with the practice regulations, ensuring that while dental hygienists can independently provide certain preventive services, they still operate under the broader oversight of a licensed dentist.

The other options suggest limitations on the type of supervision necessary. Direct only would restrict practice to situations where the dentist must be present, general only would imply no specific presence supervision is needed, and indirect supervision does not align with the requirements for well-defined procedures like sealant placement that benefit from a clear supervisory framework.