Examine ethical and legal issues related to the practice of dentistry.

Examination should include

  • Dental Assisting National Board Inc. (DANB) Virginia State Requirements Links to an external site.
  • definitions of ethics and code of ethics
  • a comparison of ethics and law
  • an explanation of how a code of ethics should influence the work of a practicing dental professional
  • the standard of care, including
    • malpractice
    • torts
    • assault and battery
    • defamation of character
    • invasion of privacy
    • fraud
    • Good Samaritan laws
    • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • the types of law, including contract and tort, related to the practice of dentistry
  • the legal responsibilities of a practicing dental professional. 

Process/Skill Questions

  • What are the differences and similarities between ethics and law?
  • How does ethics relate to the practice of dentistry?
  • How might a dental assistant's professional ethics affect a patient? In a situation involving ethical questions, to whom is a dental assistant primarily responsible—the dentist or the patient?
  • What type of law is most often applied in dentistry? What are the requirements for contract law to apply? How does contract law apply to the dentist-patient relationship?
  • What is a breach of contract?
  • What type of consent is required from a patient before performance of a routine dental procedure?
  • What is the standard of care? What are the categories that comprise the standard of care?
  • What are the four elements of negligence (malpractice)?
  • What are the consequences of being found guilty of malpractice?
  • How can a dental practice be guilty of invasion of privacy?