Oral Health Ethics

Catalog description

According to the CDC, "Oral health affects our ability to speak, smile, eat, and show emotions. It also affects self-esteem, school performance, and attendance at work and school. Oral diseases - which range from cavities to gum disease to oral cancer - cause pain and disability for millions of Americans." As with other areas of healthcare, ethical issues arise in oral health. Issues to be addressed in this course will include access to care, confidentiality, professional obligations of dentists, informed consent, treatment planning, and the importance of oral health to overall health and well-being.