ABSTRACT
Dentists, especially general dental practitioners (GDPs), are often eager to attend postgraduate courses to learn new techniques to enable them to offer advanced treatments or cosmetic work, including implants. This chapter focuses on the professions and professionals: history and development, and the standards of care: duty of care to protect the life and health of patients. It discusses the unethical and unsafe practice in dentistry: 'whistle blowing'. The chapter then focuses on the health and professional performance: risks, duties to disclose problems and sources of help and public expectations of dentistry. It also examines the ethical importance of good inter- and intraprofessional communication and teamwork. The 1956 Dentists Act granted the profession full self-government by establishing the General Dental Council, with powers to supervise dental education, maintain and publish the Dentist's Register and enforce standards of professional discipline. The 1956 Act was an amendment of the previous Acts.
