CDC Professional Ethics & Communication 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dental ceramist receives a prescription requesting a shade that the ceramist believes will not match the patient's natural teeth. What is the most ethical course of action?
- Fabricate the restoration to the prescribed shade without question
- Contact the dentist to discuss the shade discrepancy before fabricating (Correct answer)
- Refuse to complete the case until the dentist visits the lab
- Notify the patient directly about the shade concern
Correct answer: Contact the dentist to discuss the shade discrepancy before fabricating
Communicating with the prescribing dentist before fabrication prevents remakes and upholds professional responsibility.
Question 2: Which document legally authorizes a dental laboratory to fabricate a prosthesis?
- A verbal confirmation from the dental assistant
- A written prescription from the licensed dentist (Correct answer)
- A signed patient consent form sent to the lab
- An insurance pre-authorization form
Correct answer: A written prescription from the licensed dentist
A written prescription from a licensed dentist is legally required for a dental laboratory to fabricate dental prostheses.
Question 3: What ethical principle obligates a dental ceramist to act in the best interest of the patient's oral health outcomes?
- Autonomy
- Veracity
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Justice
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence means acting in the patient's best interest, guiding ceramists to prioritize quality and accuracy.
Question 4: A ceramist discovers a crack in a completed crown just before shipment. The dentist is pressuring for immediate delivery. What should the ceramist do?
- Ship it and let the dentist decide
- Discard the restoration and notify the dentist of the delay (Correct answer)
- Cover the crack with glaze and ship as scheduled
- Ask the office manager what to do instead of the dentist
Correct answer: Discard the restoration and notify the dentist of the delay
Shipping a defective restoration violates quality and ethical standards; the dentist must be informed so a replacement can be made.
Question 5: When a dental laboratory maintains patient confidentiality, which regulation is it primarily complying with?
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
- HIPAA Privacy Rule (Correct answer)
- ADA Code of Ethics
- FDA Medical Device Regulation
Correct answer: HIPAA Privacy Rule
HIPAA's Privacy Rule governs the protection of patient health information, which dental laboratories must follow as business associates.
Question 6: A ceramist is asked by a friend who is a dental technician at another lab to share proprietary techniques developed at their current employer. What is the ethical response?
- Share freely since the techniques are in the public interest
- Decline, as sharing proprietary methods violates professional and employment ethics (Correct answer)
- Share only the basic concepts, not the specific steps
- Ask the employer for permission and share if they hesitate
Correct answer: Decline, as sharing proprietary methods violates professional and employment ethics
Sharing a company's proprietary techniques without authorization is a breach of professional ethics and potentially a legal violation.
Question 7: Which action best demonstrates the ethical principle of veracity in dental ceramistry?
- Charging fair rates for all laboratory services
- Accurately reporting material composition and any fabrication errors to the dentist (Correct answer)
- Treating all dental offices equally regardless of order volume
- Maintaining a clean and organized workspace
Correct answer: Accurately reporting material composition and any fabrication errors to the dentist
Veracity means truthfulness; accurately disclosing material use and any errors exemplifies this principle.
CDC Professional Ethics & Communication 2
A dental ceramist receives a prescription requesting a shade that the ceramist believes will not match the patient's natural teeth.
What is the most ethical course of action?