New technologies in health care. Part 1: A moral and ethical predicament

With the rapid evolution of technology and the development and marketing of new procedures in dentistry, dentists have difficulty keeping pace with all of this new technology and information. How do these clinicians know whether a new product, technique or technological advance is good and should be recommended? At what point do they have an obligation to inform their patients about new procedures supported by research? This first report of a 2-part series investigates the ethical aspects of these issues and describes some of the professional ethical dilemmas and obligations involved when new therapies are offered to the public.