Professional Conduct, Unprofessional Conduct, and Disciplinary Grounds
Grounds and process
The Board may discipline a licensee for conduct that falls below the Act's standards. Common grounds include incompetence or gross negligence, fraud or misrepresentation on a license application, practicing while impaired, violating infection-control or record rules, committing a crime involving moral turpitude, exploiting a patient, fee splitting, false advertising, and failing to cooperate with an investigation. Discipline ranges from reprimand and probation to suspension or revocation, plus civil penalties and conditions.
Professional boundaries and confidentiality
The dentist-patient relationship requires honesty, privacy, and respect. Disclosing identifiable patient information without authorization or a legal exception is unprofessional. Sexual or exploitative relationships with patients are prohibited. Financial arrangements must not compromise clinical judgment.
Worked example
A dentist posts a before-and-after photo on social media without written authorization; the patient is identifiable from a tattoo. Even if the clinical work is excellent, the disclosure can support discipline because authorization is missing. The quality of care is not a defense to a confidentiality violation.
Traps that cost marks
Assuming discipline requires actual patient harm. Confusing a malpractice claim with a Board complaint. Thinking an insurance settlement bars Board action. Overlooking the duty to report certain arrests or disciplinary actions in other states.