Ethics and Deontology in Dentistry

Appearance and basic standards of conduct

A healthcare professional in a dental clinic must adhere to strict rules that apply not only to professional skills but also to appearance. Neatness is the first step toward building trust.

Basic requirements for appearance and behavior:

• Wearing a clean, pressed medical gown, cap, and change of shoes.
• Restraint in makeup and hairstyle, along with strictly moderate use of perfumes and jewelry.
• Displaying politeness, respect, utmost attentiveness, and goodwill during communication.
• Strict observance of medical confidentiality.
• A continuous drive for self-improvement and professional growth.

Building trusting relationships with the patient

Effective treatment is impossible without trust between the physician and the patient. It is built on three key components:

1. Ethical: the patient must have absolute confidence in the integrity of the staff.
2. Business: the patient evaluates the dentist's high qualifications and professionalism.
3. Psychological: the specialist must show understanding and sincere empathy for the person's condition.

Communication should be based on an objective assessment of the patient's condition. The physician must take into account how the individual reacts to their illness and adjust the communication format over time, choosing the most favorable approach. The dentist's communication skills, ability to ask the right questions, and attentive listening also play a huge role.

Interpersonal relationships within the medical team

Observing deontological norms among colleagues is no less important than communicating with patients. A physician is obligated to respect other specialists and under no circumstances undermine their professional authority.

It is absolutely unacceptable in the presence of the patient to criticize the prescribed treatment, reject a previously established diagnosis, or portray a colleague as incompetent. If the previous physician made an inaccuracy, the correct approach is to make the necessary changes to the treatment plan and correct errors in a strictly polite and delicate manner.

Duties and liability of a physician in the Russian Federation

In their work, a Russian physician relies on the voice of their own conscience, the Oath of the Physician of the Russian Federation, international ethical documents, principles of humanism, and Article 41 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

Key duties of a dentist:

• To provide care to any person in need, regardless of gender, age, nationality, religion, citizenship, or political views.
• To prescribe medications strictly according to indications, acting solely in the patient's interest.
• To apply only those modern scientific achievements approved by the Russian Ministry of Health.
• To promote a healthy lifestyle and serve as a personal example.
• To follow the duty of professional morality: to treat fellow physicians, their immediate relatives, as well as orphans and widows free of charge.

A specialist's liability is divided into moral (to society and patients) and legal (before the court for violating laws).

Iatrogenic diseases and the patient's role

Failure to observe the principles of deontology can lead to iatrogenic diseases (from Greek iatros — physician and genes — produced by) — pathologies caused by medical personnel. Causes originating from the physician may include negligence (e.g., incomplete medical history taking), insufficient competence (incorrect diagnosis or treatment methods), and psychogenic factors (an injudicious word that damages the psyche).

However, the patient can also become the cause of an iatrogenic situation if they refuse to cooperate with the dentist:

• At the diagnostic stage: the patient may deliberately conceal symptoms, comorbid conditions, or simply be unwilling to adequately assess their condition.
• At the decision-making stage: refusal of additional examinations, imposing their own opinion about the diagnosis on the physician, or constantly searching for a "better" specialist.
• At the treatment stage: low compliance (imprecise adherence to recommendations), attempts at self-medication, or complete refusal of therapy.

Class and exam questions

What else to study on this topic

• Basics of infection control and epidemiological safety
• Classification and methods of sterilization of dental instruments
• Stages and quality control of pre-sterilization cleaning
• Room sanitary regimen: rules for quartz treatment and material storage
• Risks of transmission of dangerous infections (HIV, hepatitis) during dental appointments

Other topics in "Chapter 2. Organization of Dental Practice"

Prepared by WhiteCoat Pro faculty in accordance with the medical school curriculum. For educational purposes only.