The Blurred Lines of Professionalism in Dentistry paper

In our most recent paper published in the British Dental Journal (BDJ), we explore professionalism in dentistry, focusing on defining boundaries and identifying lapses in professional conduct.

While most literature covers the definition, portrayal, and teaching of professionalism, our paper focuses on what constitutes unprofessional behaviour or the factors that call a dentist's professionalism into question.

Patient trust was identified as the core element influencing perceptions of professionalism and this, considering how trust is established between dentists and patients, explains the blurriness in defining professionalism.

Our analysis of 772 open-text online survey responses from dental professionals and the public indicate that patients place trust in the professionalism of their dentists based on behaviour directly influencing clinical care or legal boundaries and aspects of inherent character and integrity.

We conclude by recommending an approach to professionalism that mirrors a dentist's clinical practice – one that involves learned and tailored interactions, coupled with ongoing judgment and reflection. We emphasise the need for a holistic understanding of professionalism that transcends clinical standards, acknowledging the impact of individual character on the perception of trust.

The paper is available to download now.