Dental professionalism: definitions and debate

Abstract

Professionalism has been identified as a core component of revalidation by the General Dental Council. However, analysis and debate over what it means to be a professional dentist is lacking in modern dentistry in the United Kingdom. The aim of this article is to open a debate on concepts of professionalism within dentistry, drawing on established thoughts in medicine and more limited material from the dental domain. The scope of discussion will extend to include definitions of professionalism, ethical issues within professionalism, professionalism in relation to revalidation and where all of these issues relate to dentistry perceived as a business. We can learn much from the medical community who have been driven to consider 'medical professionalism in a changing world', and in support of 'better patient care'. However, we can also contribute to the wider debate on professionalism by tackling the business angle, which has been largely ignored by our medical counterparts, and adding greater weight to the ethical implications of being a professional.