Periodontics, which is that discipline of dentistry dealing with the prevention and treatment of conditions related to the tooth-supporting structures, functions within a sophisticated ethical environment. Within the Indian context, this is substantially amplified by enormous socioeconomic inequalities, cultural diversity, poor health literacy, and the growing commercialization of healthcare. This review rigorously examines the use and abuse of the four universal bioethical principles – Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-Maleficence, and Justice – by modern Indian periodontology. Major challenges discussed are that of obtaining truly informed consent in the face of language and educational disprivilege, the moral conflict of overtreatment for profit, the inequitable allocation of specialist care (Distributive Justice), and the honesty of clinical trials and education. Through a reading of the current literature, professional codes (Dental Council of India and Indian Dental Association), and law precedents, this article suggests a context-specific ethical decision-making framework and offers practical recommendations. Ultimately, the review highlights the urgent need for a reemphasis on standardized bioethics training and enhanced professional responsibility to safeguard patient welfare and social trust in Indian periodontics.
Joshi et al. (Tue,) studied this question.