[Dentistry and healthcare legislation 7. The duty to provide care: availability and accessibility]

Dentists have a duty to provide care. This duty, which interestingly enough has a limited legal basis, is for the most part given form by jurisprudence. In that process, the disciplinary judge and the grievance committees pay attention especially to 2 rules of conduct and 1 regulation governing practice. In practice, it appears to be the case that rules of conduct and regulations do not always provide an unambiguous guide. The domain within which dentists operate is striking. The availability and the accessibility of dentists are not always harmonious with the personal perception of a patient. It is sometimes difficult to find a proper balance between what is a dentist is able to manage and what a patient wants.