“Ethics, Equity, and Entrepreneurship in Dentistry”

Assistant Professor George Constantin Dumitru, D.D.S.

Dentistry operates within a professional context in which private practice plays a major role, and access to treatment is frequently influenced by the patient’s financial resources. In this context, clinical decision-making involves not only choosing a therapeutic solution but also assuming ethical, professional, and entrepreneurial responsibilities.

The doctor–patient relationship is influenced by cost transparency, informed consent, communication of therapeutic alternatives, avoidance of overtreatment, and management of conflicts of interest. Equitable access to care remains a central issue, especially in situations where financial constraints limit treatment options.

Professional ethics provide the necessary framework for maintaining trust, protecting the patient’s interests, and supporting responsible, sustainable dental practice that is oriented toward the patient’s actual needs.