DTUK1810

July 12-18, 201016 Cosmetic Tribune United Kingdom Edition T he aesthetics of dental res- torations have always been important and over the last few years there has been a big in- crease in both the demand for, and the supply of cosmetic dentistry. There are ultimately three factors responsible for this – the media, patients and dentists themselves. However, the fact of the mat- ter is that some modern cosmetic treatments may give little or no thought to the future of the pa- tient or what will happen to them down the line. With treatments such as veneers and implants on the rise, dentists should be ask- ing themselves, ‘what is best for the patient?’ not ‘what does the patient want right now?’ Denplan’s Chief Dental Offic- er, Roger Matthews, interviews Professor Richard Ibbetson to discuss the ethical implications of ‘selling’ cosmetic dentistry and how much dentists should allow themselves to be influenced by the desires of their patients. In your opinion, what is the dentist’s ethical obligation to their patient when it comes to cosmetic treatments? “Dental care is about keeping people pain-free and healthy, while trying to satisfy their cos- metic concerns. However, with magazines full of adverts for cos- metic dentistry and more people aspiring to celebrity ideals, ag- gressive dental treatments for aesthetic reasons alone are on the rise to a worrying degree. “In my view, any dental treatment undertaken should always be: • Safe • Conservative • Predictable • Patient directed • Dentist monitored “Many patients will come into a surgery convinced of the treatment they want. It is the dentist’s job to ensure the deci- sion is not rushed, that less inva- sive routes are explored and that the risks are discussed in full. We are taught as business own- ers that the customer is always right, but when measuring the aesthetic outcomes of various treatments, what the customer perceives can be subjective. In fact, many patients will be open to trying less aggressive proce- dures first, when they are fully appraised of the potential down- side of their initial preference.” It has been a rising trend for many years now that amalgam fillings are being replaced with the more aes- thetically pleasing compos- ite fillings. Is this a problem? “In many cases dentists use composite as a matter of course, without ever giving patients the choice. There are some situa- tions where composite is the best material for restoring a posteri- or tooth as it can be more con- servative of tooth tissue. How- ever, dentists know that direct composite fillings, particularly large ones, are more difficult to perform and have a significantly shorter life-span. “As oral healthcare profes- sionals, obliged by codes of prac- tice, we should therefore always talk through potential risks with patients in order for them to make an informed decision. In the same way that dentists will often choose amalgam fillings for their own treatment, in prac- tice I have found that patients are far more open to amalgam, when they understand that com- posite fillings are not without their disadvantages.” What impact has celebrity cul- ture had on the profession? “Celebrities such as Brit- ney Spears and Simon Cow- ell have a lot to answer for when it comes to dental treat- ment! Their “too-perfect” teeth have all too often brought peo- Dental Care or Beauty Treatment? Denplan’s Roger Matthews speaks to prof Richard Ibbetson on the subject of ethics