Advisor(s)
Yu-Yin Lin
Committee Member(s)
Carly McKenzie
Janice Jackson
Peng Li
Ping Zhang
Russell Taichman
School
School of Dentistry
Document Type
Thesis
Department (new version)
Dentistry
Date of Award
9-9-2024
Abstract
Introduction: Ethical violations not only tarnish the reputation of dental professionals but also compromise the trust patients place in the dental field. A review of documented legal violations provides valuable insights into the common ethical transgressions and potential deficiencies in dental ethics education. This study aims to identify common violations reported by state dental boards and trends of violations over five years. Material and Methods: After a broad preliminary search, nine state dental boards with fully accessible records from January 2017 to December 2021 were selected for a thorough review: California, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, South Dakota, and Tennessee. Data was analyzed to determine the top violation reason and any correlation when multiple charges were applied. Comparisons were made based on the region of the state, trends of violations, and consequences between 2017 and 2021. Results: Out of the 901 disciplinary actions reviewed, 25 different actions were determined. 37.74% were charged for gross negligence, making the top of the list, followed by 21.31% for incomplete documentation, and 18.31% for incomplete Continuing Education. A strong association (p= 0.001) was found between dentists who were accused of substance/alcohol abuse and those who were unfit to practice dentistry. A strong association (p =0.001) was also noticed between lack of informed consent and incomplete documentation. The top consequence following license discipline was identified as a “charge/fine” along with "probation: one to three years” before the license can be reinstated. Community service, as a condition of license reinstatement, decreased during 2020-2021, a possible implication of COVID-19. Conclusion: Gross negligence and incomplete documentation are the most common ethical violations charged in the dental field. These results suggest that potential deficiencies exist in these areas of dental ethics education and underscore the need for continual evaluation and improvement.
ProQuest ID
Supplemental data
Recommended Citation
Desai, Phorum, "A Five-Year Review Of State Dental Board Disciplinary Actions" (2024). All ETDs from UAB. 7559.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7559
