ETHICAL AND LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS IN PERIODONTICS

Periodontics is a specialty in dentistry that focusses on the inflammatory disease that destroys the gums and other supporting structures around the teeth. The doctor who specializes in this field is a periodontist. Every periodontist like any other medical professional must practice under certain laws set by the government. Any form of negligence or misconduct may lead to legal actions. Moreover, with increasing awareness in the developing societies, people are changing attitudes towards medical and dental professionals. This has led to increase in dental litigations. Hence, there is a need for inclusion of ethics and legality in the dental curriculum to make the future practitioners aware of their moral, legal, and ethical responsibilities. This would also help in providing quality oral healthcare to patients. This book deals with many aspects of ethics and law in periodontics.