Principles Features Of Dental Ethics

Bismillah..

What's special about dentistry?
People come to dentists for help with some of their most pressing needs-relief from pain and suffering and restoration of oral health and well-being. They allow dentist to see, touch, and manipulate their bodies and they disclose information about themselves that they would not others to know. They do this because they trust their dentist to act in their best interest.

Dentistry is a recognised profession. At the same time, however it is a commercial enterprise, whereby dentists employ their skills to earn a living. There is potential tension between two aspects of dentistry and maintaining an appropriate balance between them is often difficult.Some dentist may be tempted to minimise their commitment to professionalism in order to increase their income, for example by aggrasive advertising and/or specialising in lucrative cosmetics procedures. If taken too far, such activities can diminish the public's respect for and trust in the entire dental profession,with the results that dentist will be regarded as just another set of enterpreneurs who place their own interest above those of the people they serve. Such behaviour is in conflict with the requirement of the FDI International Principles of Ethics for the Dental Profession that " the dentist should act in a manner which will enhance the prestige and reputation of the profession"


Because the commercial aspect of dentistry sometimes seems to prevail over the professional aspect, the status of dentist is deteriorating in some countries. Patient who used to accept dentist's advice unquestioningly sometimes ask dentists to defend their recommendations if these are different from other oral health practicioners or the internet. If they are dissatisfied with the results of dental treatment, no matter what the cause, an increasing number of patients are turning to tHe courts to obtain their compensation from dentist. Moreover, many dentists feel that they are no longer as respected as they once were. In some countries, control of oral health care has moved steadily away from dentist to non-dental managers and bureucarts, some of whom tend to see dentist as obstacles to rather than partners in the provision of health care for all in need. Some procedures that formerly only dentist were capable of performing are done by dental hygienists, therapist, assistants or denturists


 Despite these changes impinging on the status of dentist, dentistry continues to be a profession that is highly valued by the people who need its services. It also continues o attract large numbers of the most gifted, hardworking and dedicated students.In order to meet the expectations of the patients, students and general public, it is important that dentists know and exemplify the core values of dentistry, especially compassion, competence and autonomy. These values, along with respect for fundamental human rights, serve as the foundation of dental ethics.