Contributors

A. Aspradaki

Assoc. Prof. A. Philalithis

Country - institution

University of Crete, Greece.

Title

Bioethics in Dentistry: Issues of Autonomy and Consent in Oral Health

Summary

Bioethics in dentistry is concerned with the ethical, legal and social questions raised by recent advances in dental art, science and biotechnology. Of particular interest are bioethics issues relevant to the fields of biodental research, clinical practice, professional ethics and public dental health.

The debate about the ethical, legal and social limitations to contemporary scientific and biotechnological developments in dentistry seems to be a necessity for dealing with the newly emerging challenges for the dental community worldwide.

In this lecture, attention is focused on the bioethics concepts of autonomy and consent, with special reference to the protection of the patient in oral health research and in dental patient care. Reference is made to the specific duties and responsibilities of dentists and to the broader issues raised by oral public health.