Dental Ethics

Although dentistry for most of its history was limited to extractions, twentieth century innovations have enabled dentists to provide a panoply of expert health care services. Consequently, the modern practice of dentistry is guided by the same basic ethical principles and rules as are medicine, nursing, and other health professions. The discipline of dental ethics has emerged in part to provide educational and clinically relevant materials that facilitate students’ gaining competency in this area as well as assisting practicing dentists to abide by these principles. However, this article focuses on the ethical challenges that dentists face more commonly or more urgently than do other health professionals.