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Year : 2012 | Volume
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| Issue : 2 | Page : 51 |
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Dental Ethics |
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Thubashini Meiyappan
Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospitals, Maduravoyal, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Click here for correspondence address and email
Date of Web Publication | 13-Nov-2013 |
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How to cite this article: Meiyappan T. Dental Ethics. J Educ Ethics Dent 2012;2:51 |
Ethics are the moral principles that govern the conduct of an individual. Dental ethics implies moral principles and virtues in learning and practice of dentistry. Many dental organizations and colleges have formulated ethical codes to guide the dental students and dentists in their practice. Dental Practice Acts have also been formulated to regulate the practice of dentistry.
The ethical principles that are to be followed in dental academics includes provision of education equal to all students, staffs should not show personal bias against students. Harassment in any form such as verbal, psychological and/or physical should be avoided. Claiming of student's work as their own by the guides should be prevented. Acceptance of any favors or gifts that may influence professional decisions should be avoided. The studies should not be fabricated to improve its value.
A dentist should be willing to discuss, advise, guide and aid in the treatment of oral health. The dentists in practice should follow the ethical principles such as autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice. Informed consent of the patient is very important in dental practice. Confidentiality of the patient's record should be maintained.
Dentists should not recommend or perform any unnecessary procedures for income and should not increase the cost of treatment for the sake of insurance claiming. [1] Misleading the patients by dentist's identity, services etc., should be avoided. Dentists should not involve in market practices and it is important to promote ethical practice and professionalism in dentistry.
Hence "Ethics in dentistry" should be considered as a subject in the 5 year course of bachelor of dental surgery in dental curriculum to heighten the standard of dentistry, both in learning and practice.
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1. | Available from: http://www.ida.org.in/dental practice accreditation/code of ethics.aspx. [Last accessed on 2013 Oct 23]. |
Authors | | |
Thubashini Meiyappan
Correspondence Address: Thubashini Meiyappan Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospitals, Maduravoyal, Chennai, Tamil Nadu India
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0974-7761.121255
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