Ethical and Legal Issues in Dentistry

This episode explores the important ethical and legal aspects of dentistry. We'll discuss the codes of ethics from the ADA, ADHA, and ADAA, which help guide dental professionals in their patient care. The discussion will also cover the State Dental Practice Act, designed to protect the public from incompetent or unethical dental professionals. This act outlines legal requirements including licensure, continuing education, delegation of duties to dental auxiliaries, infection control, guidelines for dental radiographs, and situations that could lead to license suspension or revocation.

We will examine different types of dental auxiliary supervision, such as direct supervision, where a dentist is physically present, and general supervision also known as indirect supervision where the dentist is not in the office during the procedure. We'll also discuss "respondent superior," the concept where the supervising dentist is responsible for the actions of their employees.

Furthermore, we will explore the credentials for dental assistants: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) and Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). The episode also stresses the importance of accurate charting, obtaining informed consent, and maintaining high standards of clinical quality to reduce the likelihood of malpractice lawsuits.

Finally, we'll review various forms of consent, including informed consent and implied consent, highlighting the importance of obtaining informed consent to avoid legal issues such as battery.