Dental professionalism: definitions and debate

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dental professionalism: definitions and debate

AU - Trathen, A.

AU - Gallagher, J. E.

PY - 2009/3/14

Y1 - 2009/3/14

N2 - Professionalism has been identified as a core component of revalidation by the General Dental Council. 1 However, analysis and debate over what it means to be a professional dentist is lacking in modern dentistry in the United Kingdom. The aim of this article is to open a debate on concepts of professionalism within dentistry, drawing on established thoughts in medicine and more limited material from the dental domain. The scope of discussion will extend to include definitions of professionalism, ethical issues within professionalism, professionalism in relation to revalidation and where all of these issues relate to dentistry perceived as a business. We can learn much from the medical community who have been driven to consider 'medical professionalism in a changing world', 2 and in support of 'better patient care'. 3 However, we can also contribute to the wider debate on professionalism by tackling the business angle, which has been largely ignored by our medical counterparts, and adding greater weight to the ethical implications of being a professional.

AB - Professionalism has been identified as a core component of revalidation by the General Dental Council. 1 However, analysis and debate over what it means to be a professional dentist is lacking in modern dentistry in the United Kingdom. The aim of this article is to open a debate on concepts of professionalism within dentistry, drawing on established thoughts in medicine and more limited material from the dental domain. The scope of discussion will extend to include definitions of professionalism, ethical issues within professionalism, professionalism in relation to revalidation and where all of these issues relate to dentistry perceived as a business. We can learn much from the medical community who have been driven to consider 'medical professionalism in a changing world', 2 and in support of 'better patient care'. 3 However, we can also contribute to the wider debate on professionalism by tackling the business angle, which has been largely ignored by our medical counterparts, and adding greater weight to the ethical implications of being a professional.

U2 - 10.1038/sj.bdj.2009.164

DO - 10.1038/sj.bdj.2009.164

M3 - Editorial

SN - 1476-5373

SN - 1741-7503

VL - 206

SP - 249

EP - 253

JO - British Dental Journal

JF - British Dental Journal

IS - 5

ER -