Though when dentists faced disciplinary actions it was often due to inadequate recordkeeping, it was also fairly common for them to be reprimanded for a lack of ethics and improper treatment. The study was published in the Journal of the American Dental Association.
Becoming better aware of the frequency and nature of infractions may promote a greater understanding of the need for sustained emphasis on being familiar with the rules and laws of dental boards, the authors wrote.
"The objective is not merely to highlight negative aspects but to learn from the common mistakes of other clinicians to enhance clinical practice," wrote the authors, led by Dr. Sridhar Eswaran, MS, MSD, of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry (JADA, February 2, 2025).
Examining infractions reported to the state boards of dentistry can offer valuable insights to dental care professionals. By reviewing violations resulting from disciplinary action reported to boards, dental teams can improve ethical awareness, uphold professional conduct, manage risks effectively, and prioritize patient-centered care, according to the study.
Using the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners database, a search for disciplinary actions was completed. The search uncovered 1,056 disciplinary action reports that were filed in general dentistry over 16 years.
Of the infractions reported, 39% were due to inadequate recordkeeping. Of the rest of the reports, 23% were due to a lack of ethics and professionalism, which included prescription errors, delegating a duty to someone who was not qualified or licensed to do it, and personal behavior, such as legal or character issues, the authors wrote.
Additionally, 23% of disciplinary actions were for inadequate treatment, including failing to meet the minimum standard of care and overtreatment. For the remainder of the disciplinary reports, 9% were for improper diagnosis and 6% were for renewal issues, they wrote.
Nevertheless, the study had limitations, including that it only focused on misconduct by general dentists. Disciplinary actions taken against clinicians in other specialties may be different and possibly more serious, they wrote.
Furthermore, the authors caution that bigger studies, including multiple states and specialties, are needed to generalize the results, the authors wrote.
"Dental disciplinary records provide valuable insights into common instances of misconduct within dental practice," Eswaran and colleagues wrote.
