Mindfulness and professionalism in dentistry.

Professionalism and commercialism in esthetic dentistry

The need for dental ethicists and the promise of universal patient acceptance: response to Richard Masella's "Renewing professionalism in dental education".

Richard Masella's "Renewing Professionalism in Dental Education: Overcoming the Market Environment" reveals why professionalism is nearly dead in America; it also shows the good of commerce and the excesses of commercialism in the market. More importantly, it collects and summarizes most of the relevant forms of education currently available to teach professionalism and professional ethics in d...

Is dentistry a profession? Part 3. Future challenges.

In 2 earlier articles a definition of professionalism was developed, and several specific professional responsibilities were deduced. This third and final article in the series examines whether dentistry qualifies as a profession. On various levels, the professionalism of dentistry is found wanting. However, attaining the status of a profession is a work in progress, which means that each profe...

What does it mean to be a professional?

An extensive literature on professionalism from many domains was reviewed to identify basic elements generally recognized as necessary for being considered a “professional”. The literature revealed six criteria generally recognized as being necessary of professionals; these criteria were used to define what is necessary of an ergonomics professional. The Foundation for Professional Ergonomics s...

Is dentistry a profession? Part 2. The hallmarks of professionalism.

In this second in a series of 3 articles, the author builds on the definition of professionalism developed in the first article, arguing that the social contract between the profession and the public entails a collective responsibility of the members of the profession to serve the public good. Several specific professional duties are deduced, such as the duties to attain and maintain competence...