Codes of Ethics in the Dental Profession

The professions of dentistry and dental hygiene each maintain a code of ethics that translates ethical principles into standards of professional conduct. Although the American Dental Association (ADA) and American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) codes differ in structure and emphasis, both are grounded in a commitment to ethical patient care and professional responsibility.

The term complementarity, defined as considering the values and perspectives of others, is used in the dental hygiene code and can be described as a cultural humility.

Other dental groups, such as the American College of Dentists, a professional organization that is by invitation only, was founded in 1920 to elevate the standards of dentistry, encourage continuing education and acknowledge those individuals who provide exceptional contributions and leadership to dentistry and society. The College, through its many publications and programs, stresses excellence, ethics, professionalism and ethical decision-making for members and non-members of the greater dental community. The Code of Conduct of the American College of Dentists can be found at acd.org.

For students of dentistry and dental hygiene, the code of ethics are vehicles for educating novices about the obligations of the profession, informing them about the basic beliefs and fundamental principles of the group, and providing guidelines regarding the expected behavior of a clinician and practitioner. Each major association, the ADA and ADHA support a student version of its main organization to encourage the ethical and professional development of the student learner.¹¹