%0 Journal Article
%T Ethical Considerations and Marketing Practices in Cosmetic Dentistry: A Systematic Review of Overtreatment and Patient-Centered Care
%A Arjun Mehta
%A Kavita Shah
%A Rohit Kulkarni
%J Asian Journal of Ethics in Health and Medicine
%@ 3108-5059
%D 2022
%V 2
%N 1
%R 10.51847/VJUQ0qnfIz
%P 139-156
%X The growing cultural obsession with physical attractiveness, fueled largely by social media, has triggered a dramatic increase in patient demand for cosmetic dental treatments. This study seeks to examine the ethical implications of marketing strategies and the issue of overtreatment in aesthetic dentistry, with particular emphasis on their impact on patient well-being and the maintenance of professional standards. A systematic review of the literature was performed using four databases, initially identifying 76 articles. Following the application of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 studies were deemed eligible for detailed analysis. The review concentrated on ethical issues, marketing strategies, and instances of overtreatment in cosmetic dentistry, with a narrative synthesis approach used to extract and summarize the relevant findings. The findings suggest that social media significantly shapes patient expectations, often emphasizing cosmetic results over medical needs. This trend poses ethical challenges related to informed consent and patient autonomy. The commercialization of dental services, driven by aggressive marketing, has led to a rise in overtreatment, with unnecessary procedures carried out to meet profit motives and idealized beauty standards. The review also points to a shortage of strong ethical guidelines regulating marketing in aesthetic dentistry, which further intensifies these concerns. The study emphasizes the critical need for well-defined ethical frameworks to help dental professionals balance patient well-being with commercial objectives. Suggested measures include incorporating ethics training into dental education, establishing detailed ethical guidelines, and promoting transparent communication between practitioners and patients. These steps are vital for supporting informed decision-making and ensuring that patient care remains the central focus in aesthetic dentistry.
%U https://smerpub.com/article/ethical-considerations-and-marketing-practices-in-cosmetic-dentistry-a-systematic-review-of-overtre-fyjy02ooyfoyqkt