Instrument fracture in periodontal therapy: ethical disclosure and clinical management - a case report.

Periodontal instrument fractures are rare events in dentistry, with limited literature available on their occurrence and management. This case report highlights an incident involving the fracture of a periodontal sickle scaler blade during manual instrumentation for the removal of calculus. The fracture occurred during instrumentation on the mesial surface of the maxillary right second molar, and the separated blade was subsequently pushed into the sulcus. A radiographic assessment was performed to verify the precise location of the fractured segment. Following confirmation, the broken blade was subsequently retrieved using curved artery forceps. The case report highlights factors contributing to instrument fractures, emphasizing the importance of instrument maintenance, sterilization cycles, and operator technique. Ethical considerations regarding patient disclosure, informed consent, and instrument retrieval methods are well discussed. This case underscores the importance of truthful communication, the proper use of instruments, equipment maintenance in dentistry, and the significance of ongoing professional development to enhance treatment safety, proficiency, and ethical standards in dental care.

Awareness and practice of Revised Code of Dental Ethics and Consumer Protection Act among dental practitioners in Andhra Pradesh: A cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Given the imperative for dental practitioners to be familiar with the existing ethical principles and laws governing their practice, this study aimed to evaluate awareness and practice of the dentists (code of ethics) regulations 2014 and consumer protection act 2019 among dental practitioners in Andhra Pradesh state, India. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted among 384 dental practitioners in Andhra Pradesh state, India. A questionnaire consisting of 25 items was used to assess awareness and practice of the dentists (code of ethics) regulations and consumer protection act. The data collected were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. RESULTS: Only 53(13.8%) dental practitioners in the study were aware that the dentists (code of ethics) regulations had been revised in 2014. About 190 (49.5%) practitioners were aware of the precise period for mandatory preservation of patient records. Most dental practitioners (278, 72.4%) accepted commissions in the form of gifts or cash from laboratories, radiologists, or pharmacists and 306 (79.7%) dental practitioners used unregistered dental lab technicians as employees in their practice. Furthermore, 297 (77.3%) practitioners were found to provide or sell drugs to patients in their clinic/office. The new regulations under consumer protection act 2019 were unknown to 194 (50.5%) dental practitioners. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that the awareness of dental practitioners towards the dentists (code of ethics) regulations 2014 and consumer protection act 2019 is inadequate. It highlights the need for training programmes and curriculum changes with a focus on ethical and legal issues in clinical dental practice.

Difficulties experienced by dentists and orthodontists regarding ethical issues when announcing the diagnosis of a rare oral disease: a qualitative study in Marseille, France.

PURPOSE: It is traditionally considered that breaking bad news to patients does not represent a cause for concern for dental professionals. However, there are situations where they will be confronted with this task, as in the case of rare dental diseases. Little information is available regarding the feelings of healthcare professionals on this subject. There are no qualitative studies that explore how a diagnosis of oligodontia is announced to patients by dentists and orthodontists. The aim of our study is to explore the difficulties and ethical issues experienced by dental health professionals when they have to announce a diagnosis of oligodontia to a patient and their family. METHODS: This study relied on a qualitative research method using focus groups of dentists and orthodontists and a thematic analysis procedure. RESULTS: The difficulties experienced could be summarised within five topics: organisational difficulties, difficulties with the management of dental treatment and with the administrative management associated with this anomaly, difficulties with the content of the announcement, and relational difficulties. These could be grouped in two categories: practical difficulties and ethical difficulties. CONCLUSION: This survey allowed us to understand the difficulties encountered by dentists and orthodontists when announcing oligodontia. The participants felt uncomfortable with this task and were under stress. They reported difficulties in delivering the medical information and in adapting to the message. It is essential that dental professionals develop skills in medical communication.

Aspectos bioéticos y legales del secreto profesional en odontología / Bioethical and legal aspects of the professional secret in dentistry

Deontology and bioethics regulate the professional actions of doctors and dentists from a human and moral point of view. The dentist collects private information from each of his patients during the interrogation or clinical examination, and it is the dentist's obligation to keep silent about everything he sees or hears during the dental practice about the private life of his patients. The disclosure of secrets without the full authorization of the patient could undoubtedly affect their person, honor and reputation. In addition, the dentist has another type of private information about patients, known as personal data, which must be handled with great care and discretion. Professional secrecy is an ethical obligation of every dentist and its omission may bring legal repercussions. The aim of this article is to analyze the concept of professional secrecy, its ethical, deontological and legal aspects in dental practice (AU)

La deontología y bioética norman el actuar profesional de los médicos y odontólogos desde el punto de vista humano y moral. El odontólogo recaba información privada de cada uno de sus pacientes durante el interrogatorio o la exploración clínica, y es obligación del odontólogo guardar silencio de todo aquello que ve o escucha durante la consulta sobre la vida privada de sus pacientes. La revelación de secretos sin la plena autorización del paciente, podría generar sin duda afectaciones a su persona, honorabilidad y reputación. Además, el odontólogo posee otro tipo de información privada sobre los pacientes, conocida como datos personales, mismos que debe manejar con mucha cautela y discre- ción. El secreto profesional es una obligación ética de todo odontólogo y su omisión puede traer consigo repercusiones legales. El objetivo de este artículo consiste en analizar el concepto de secreto profesional, sus aspectos deontológicos, bioéticos y legales en la práctica odontológica (AU)

Prevención cuaternaria desde la visión odontológica / Quaternary prevention from a dental point of view

Introducción: El personal de salud debe comprender que el paciente es la figura central en el proceso salud-enfermedad, por lo que, para pro- teger su salud y atender de manera eficaz la enfermedad, se debe partir desde los principios básicos de prevención. La frase «prevenir es mejor que curar¼ debe ser considerada una máxima en salud y una metodología para atender enfermedades desde factores de riesgo, hacer partícipe a los pacientes y a la población en general a llevar a cabo estilos de vida saludables, con actividades preventivas que incrementen su importancia en la atención médica. Conclusiones: La prevención cuaternaria es una forma nueva para llamar al viejo principio de la medicina «lo primero es no hacer daño¼, que da origen al principio bioético de la no male- ficencia, este concepto se refiere a todas aquellas valoraciones que se deben hacer ante cualquier tipo de intervención diagnóstica, terapéutica y preventiva. Esto tiene especial importancia en la población sana, en la cual la prevención será siempre la mejor herramienta, pero se debe siempre tener presente la prevención cuaternaria (AU)

Introduction: Health personnel should understand that the patient is the central figure in the health-disease process and that to protect their health and effectively treat the disease starting from the basic principle of prevention. The phrase «prevention is better than cure¼ from being considered a maxim in health and a methodology to address diseases from risk factors, involving patients and the general population to carry out healthy lifestyles, with preventive activities that increase its importance in medical care. Conclusions: Quaternary prevention is a new way to call the old principle of medicine «first do no harm¼, which gives rise to the bioethical principle of non-maleficence, this concept refers to all those assessments that should be made before any type of diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive intervention. This is especially important in the healthy population, in which prevention will always be the best tool, but quaternary prevention should always be kept in mind (AU)

Reconocimiento docente de los valores éticos y morales en la formación curricular de la carrera de odontología de la Universidad de Viña del Mar, Chile / Teaching recognition of ethical and moral values in the curriculum training of the dentistry career of the Universidad de Viña del Mar, Chile

El objetivo de esta investigación es determinar la coherencia entre lo declarado por los programas de estudios de pregrado en la carrera de Odontología de la Universidad de Viña del Mar, en relación a los valores éticos y morales y, cómo son reconocidos efectivamente por los docentes en los estudiantes. El diseño de investigación corresponde a un estudio descriptivo y transversal. Para esto se adaptaron dos instrumentos, el primero: "cuestionario sobre percepción en la categorización de valores" que busca determinar la importancia que le dan los docentes a los valores. Mientras que en el segundo: "Encuesta sobre valores en estudiantes de odontología" solicita que cada docente evalúe la frecuencia con que se manifiestan ciertos valores éticos y morales en sus estudiantes. Se consideraron los 28 académicos que constituyen la totalidad del universo de docentes clínicos de los cursos de 4to y 5to años de la carrera de odontología en el año 2019. Se discuten los resultados comparándolos con experiencias similares en otras instituciones. Los resultados muestran la percepción y el reconocimiento de los valores por parte del cuerpo docente en los estudiantes, donde se identificó que los valores incorporados de mejor manera son la dignidad, el trato humano y el dialogo; mientras que la autocrítica y el conocimiento fueron los menos incorporados, estos son clave para establecer reflexión y mejoras en los planes de estudio. Se marca el punto de inicio para la generación de futuras líneas de investigación que incorporen otros aspectos como la perspectiva de los pacientes, los estudiantes, así como también continuar recabando información para utilizar metodologías que puedan contribuir a la integración de valores y poner en debate la importancia de ellos en la formación de pregrado.

The aim of this article is to determine the coherence between what is declared by the undergraduate study programs in the Dentistry career at the University of Viña del Mar, in relation to ethical and moral values and how they are effectively recognized by teachers in the students. The research design corresponds to a descriptive and cross-sectional study. Two instruments were adapted for this, the first: "questionnaire on perception in the categorization of values" that seeks to determine the importance that teachers give to values. While in the second: "Survey on values in dentistry students" requests that each teacher evaluates the frequency of certain ethical and moral values which are manifested in their students. 28 academics constituting the entire universe of clinical teachers of the 4th and 5th year courses of dentistry career in 2019 were considered. The results were discussed, comparing them with similar experiences in other institutions. Results show the perception and recognition of the values by the teaching staff in the students. These values incorporated in the best way were dignity, humane treatment and dialogue; while self-criticism and knowledge were the least incorporated. These are key values to establish a reflection and subsequent improvements in the study plans. This article marks a starting point for the generation of future lines of research that incorporate other aspects such as the perspective of patients, students, as well as continuing to collect information to use methodologies that can contribute to the integration of values and put them into a debate about the importance of them in undergraduate training.

Assessing Moral Skills in General and Post-Graduate Dental Students in the Southeast of Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Objective: To assess the level of moral skills in dental students and residents. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study was conducted on dental students and residents of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, selected by census sampling. Data collection tools included a demographic information checklist (age, gender, marital status, educational level (before basic sciences, after basic sciences, residency), and moral skills inventory questionnaire. The data were analyzed using a T-test and multiple regression analysis at a confidence level of 95%. Results: The total score of the moral skills questionnaire was about 44 out of 80, and there was no difference between males and females in moral skills (p=0.79). However, there was a significant difference in moral sensitivity between married and single students (p=0.036). Residents gained significantly higher moral integrity scores than students (p=0.046). Conclusion: The study highlights that the level of professional moral skills in Kerman dental students and residents was acceptable. Single students got higher scores in the moral sensitivity domain, although residents got the highest scores in the moral integrity domain. There was no significant correlation between gender and the level of moral skills (AU).

COVID-19: ¿cuál es el rol ético del odontólogo ante esta pandemia? / COVID-19: what is the ethical role of the dentist in face of this pandemic?

Introducción: Para un buen profesional de la odontología es necesaria la ética en todas las actividades que realice. La ética establece lo que es y debe ser, buscando siempre el bien y no hacer el mal o causar daño, y el odontólogo debe tener una serie de cualidades y aptitudes con el fin de llevar a cabo todo el tratamiento que amerite el paciente de manera correcta, honesta y responsable sin escatimar esfuerzos para devolverle su salud oral. La COVID-19 es una enfermedad que se ha convertido en pandemia y está afectando al mundo de manera importante. Entre los más afectados se encuentran los profesionales de la salud que arriesgan sus vidas por sanar al enfermo. Dada la situación actual, a los odontólogos se les presenta la duda si atender a sus pacientes en este periodo cumple o no con los principios éticos de la profesión. Objetivo: El objetivo del presente artículo fue realizar una revisión sistemática de la literatura con el fin de identificar el rol bioético del odontólogo ante la pandemia de COVID-19. Material y métodos: Para realizar la recolección de la literatura se compilaron artículos de diferentes bases de datos: PubMed, Cochrane, Nature y Lilacs producidos entre los años 2012 y 2020 con las palabras clave: ética, odontología, pandemia, COVID-19 y bioética en los idiomas español, inglés y portugués. Resultados: Se localizaron 70 artículos, de los cuales se escogieron finalmente 10 correspondientes a los criterios de búsqueda. Los artículos presentaron homogeneidad sobre el rol del odontólogo en la situación actual y coinciden en la búsqueda de alternativas y métodos de atención lo más seguras posibles, dando prioridad a quienes requieren atención de urgencias (AU)

Introduction: For a good dental professional, ethics is necessary in all the activities performed. Ethics stablish what is and what should be, always looking for the good and not the bad, the dentist should have a series of qualities and skills in order to perform every treatment that the patient needs in a correct, honest and responsible way without sparing efforts to give them back their oral health. COVID-19 is a disease that has converted into a pandemic affecting the world in an important manner. And, between the most affected are the health providers and professionals that risk their lives to heal the people suffering this disease. Given the current situation, dentists have been found in doubt regarding if treating their patients in this period meets or not the ethical principles of their profession. Objective: The objective of this article is to perform a systematic review of literature in order to identify the bioethics role of the dentist in face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: To carry out the collection of literature the procedure included compiling different articles from the databases: PubMed, Cochrane, Nature, and Lilacs produced between the years of 2012 and 2020 with the key words: ethics, dentistry, pandemic, COVID-19, bioethics in the languages of Spanish, English and Portuguese. Results: 70 papers were located from which only 10 were chosen meeting the searching criteria. The papers presented homogenous results about the role of dentists in the current situation and the all agree in the search of alternatives and methods of care that are as secure as possible, giving priority to those who are in need of urgent care (AU)

Decisão diante de conflitos bioéticos e formação em odontologia / Decision-making in the face of bioethical conflict and training in Dentistry / Decisión frente a conflictos bioéticos y formación en odontología

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo é relacionar concepções sobre ética com a capacidade de tomada de decisão de estudantes no estágio inicial do curso de odontologia. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa, dividida em duas etapas: na primeira, 62 participantes responderam a um formulário on-line com duas perguntas sobre concepções de ética; na segunda, 59 deliberaram sobre duas situações de saúde envolvendo conflitos bioéticos. As respostas passaram por análise textual discursiva, por meio da qual se verificou que a maioria dos estudantes compreende a ética como orientação individual nas condutas sociais e profissionais. Essa concepção restrita de ética aparece também nos exercícios de tomada de decisão. Conclui-se que o ensino de bioética deve contemplar o papel de contextos singulares na tomada de decisão, enfatizando o respeito à vida, e não apenas o tratamento de doenças. Tal ensino, inserido de maneira transversal na formação, valoriza o cuidado centrado nas pessoas.

Abstract This study aims to understand the relationship between conceptions of ethics and decision making in situations of bioethical conflict in practices of first-year dentistry students. Holistic case study with a qualitative approach was carried out, in two steps: in the first, 62 participants answered an online form with two questions about conceptions of ethics; in the second, 59 deliberated on two health situations with bioethical conflict. Discursive textual analysis was performed. Results show that students understand ethics as individual guidance in social and profession conduct. In training, students' restricted conceptions of ethics are amplified in the decision-making exercises in the face of bioethical conflicts. The role of singular contexts is an element for the decision-making in learning that includes respect for life and not just the treatment of disease. The topic of bioethics, thus transversalized in the formative process, values people-centered care.

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio es relacionar concepciones sobre ética con la capacidad de toma de decisiones de estudiantes en la etapa inicial del curso de odontología. Se trata de una investigación cualitativa, dividida en dos etapas: en la primera, 62 participantes respondieron a un formulario en línea con dos preguntas sobre concepciones de ética; en la segunda, 59 participantes deliberaron sobre dos situaciones de salud que implican conflictos bioéticos. Las respuestas se sometieron a un análisis textual discursivo, por medio del cual se constató que la mayoría de los estudiantes comprende la ética como una orientación individual en las conductas sociales y profesionales. Esta concepción restringida de la ética aparece también en los ejercicios de toma de decisiones. Se concluye que la enseñanza de la bioética debe contemplar el papel de los contextos singulares en la toma de decisiones, haciendo hincapié en el respeto por la vida, y no solo en el tratamiento de enfermedades. Tal enseñanza, inserida de manera transversal en la formación, valoriza el cuidado centrado en las personas.

Disruptures in the Dental Ethos: The Birth, Life, & Neoliberal Retirement of Norms in Advertising & Corporatization.

This paper argues that the trends in advertising and corporatization in dentistry since the 1970s have resulted in processes of de-professionalization and de-regulation, respectively.