Oral Health/Vocab
How often should you get a dental cleaning?
That which is held in confidence; done or communicated in secret; the state of trust placed in a dental assistant by a patient so as not to communicate those items which are privileged
Confidentiality
The principle of “doing no harm”; a state of non-injury to a patient during the provision of dental care services
Nonmaleficence
Discrimination
Treatment or consideration placed on class or category rather than individual merit; treating persons differently based on their physical, mental or emotional state, race or gender
Leaving toothpaste on your teeth without rinsing it off is okay
Professionalism
A quality set in standards and methods of performance demonstrating skill, knowledge and professional ability demonstrated consistently
Discontinuation of a patient/provider relationship once it has been established; discontinuing treatment once begun without cause or notification to the patient
Abandonment
A description of a person’s attributes, traits and abilities; the qualities that define a person or group; could be used to define moral or ethical strength
Character
A set of principles of right conduct; the general nature of morals and of the specific moral choices made by a person
Ethics
Your first adult tooth usually erupts at around 3 years old
Scope of Practice
The range of duties and functions legally allowable under the defined areas of providership such as type of license, permit or certification held; set forth by the state Dental Practice Act and the laws of the state
Autonomous
Independent; not controlled by others or outside forces; self-directed; independent in mind and judgement. Patients are capable and have the right to determine what should be done to their bodies
Holding of something of trust to another; a relationship based on the trusted responsibility between patient and health care provider
Fiduciary Responsibility
A licensed dentist must be physically present in the treatment facility during the performance of the function; the function must be checked and approved by the supervising dentist prior to dismissal of the patient
Direct Supervision
The state or quality of being kind; charitable and promoting good will. The dentist has a duty to promote the patient’s welfare. This principle expresses the concept that professionals have a duty to act for the benefit of others
Beneficience
A collection of rules or guidelines addressing the ethical standards of a profession or professional entity
Code of Ethics
Implied
A term used when data or knowledge is not specifically stated verbally or in writing; an inferred statement
Failure to exercise the degree of care considered reasonable under the circumstances resulting in an unintended injury to a patient; lack of reasonable and prudent care of a patient in a healthcare setting
Negligence
A fictional country in Africa that holds most of the world's Vibranium
Wakanda