What constitutes a conflict of interest in dentistry and how should it be handled?

• A. Hide financial ties and proceed
• B. Only disclose if asked
• C. Identify financial or relational ties, disclose them, recuse if necessary, maintain patient-first decisions, and follow institutional policies to avoid bias
• D. Avoid any professional boundaries

Answer: (C)

Conflicts of interest arise when a dentist’s personal or financial interests could bias clinical judgment or patient care. The best way to handle this is to proactively identify any financial ties or close relationships that could influence decisions. Disclose those ties to the patient and to the appropriate institution or supervisor, and if the tie could affect a specific decision, recuse yourself from that case or decision. Always keep the patient’s welfare first and ensure care decisions are based on evidence and the patient’s best interests, not personal gain. Follow institutional policies on disclosure and management, and document what was disclosed and what steps were taken. This transparent, patient-centered approach helps maintain trust and ethical standards, and it’s not appropriate to hide ties or to wait to be asked about them, nor to blur professional boundaries.