Professionalism & Ethics in Dental Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real AGD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professionalism & Ethics in Dental Practice flashcards as text
Which ethical model is most consistent with the ADA's view of the dentist-patient relationship?
Answer: Mutual participation model
The ADA endorses a mutual participation model in which the dentist and patient collaborate as partners, balancing professional expertise with patient autonomy.
A social media post by a dental employee identifies a patient by name and shares clinical details. This most directly violates:
Answer: HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules
Disclosing individually identifiable health information on social media without patient authorization is a direct HIPAA Privacy Rule violation.
A dentist who sells cosmetic products in their office must ensure that:
Answer: Any claims made are truthful and the financial relationship is disclosed to patients
Veracity requires truthful product claims and disclosure of any financial interest; failure to disclose constitutes a conflict of interest and deceptive practice.
A patient who is a minor requests orthodontic records without parental involvement. The dentist should:
Answer: Consult state law to determine if the minor qualifies as mature or emancipated before releasing records
State law governs minors' rights to their own records; emancipated or mature minors may have independent access rights, so legal requirements must be verified.
Which factor most strongly elevates a dentist's ethical obligation to refer a patient to a specialist?
Answer: The procedure being outside the dentist's current competence
Competence is a core professional obligation; when a procedure exceeds a dentist's skill level, the duty to refer is directly tied to nonmaleficence and the patient's welfare.
A dentist discovers that a laboratory they use is producing restorations in a facility with poor infection control standards. The ethical obligation is to:
Answer: Investigate, address the issue with the lab, and switch labs if standards are not corrected
Dentists are responsible for the quality and safety of services provided under their care, including outsourced lab work; patient safety requires action.
Which of the following best exemplifies the ethical principle of veracity in a dental practice setting?
Answer: Accurately informing a patient when a procedure did not go as planned, including disclosure of any adverse outcome
Veracity requires honest, complete communication with patients, including timely disclosure of complications or unexpected outcomes.