Maintaining professional boundaries is one of the most important things a dentist can do to build and retain patient trust, according to Barry Lyon, DDS.
Dr. Lyon, the director of provider recruiting and onboarding at Dental Care Alliance, recently spoke with Becker’s about the actions that can erode patient trust, and how these impact the industry.
Editor’s note: This Q&A is part of a weekly series featuring Dr. Lyon focused on topics in the dental industry and DSO field. The views expressed are those of Dr. Lyon and do not necessarily reflect those of Dental Care Alliance.
This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Dr. Barry Lyon:
When dentists are bestowed their degrees and obtain their licenses, they are gifted something very few receive: trust. With every dental visit, patients find themselves in vulnerable positions — physically, emotionally and psychologically. Patients place themselves in the dentist’s hands with the expectation they will receive proper care and will be dealt with impeccable professionalism. The ultimate loss of trust occurs when sexual boundaries are violated.
Sexual assault by dentists is uncommon, but when it occurs it is sensational and generates the ultimate negative publicity for the profession. There was a case before the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners in 2002 in which a dentist was arrested for committing sexual assault while the patient’s police-officer fiancé was in the waiting room. One wonders what goes through the minds of a dentist willing to commit such an act. Maintaining appropriate sexual boundaries is not simply an ethical expectation; it is a fundamental human right and an obligation that protects patients, preserves public confidence and safeguards the reputation of the profession. Dental Boards consider allegations involving sexual misconduct or boundary violations as the most serious offenses because they represent the ultimate loss of trust.
Professional boundary violations extend beyond criminal sexual misconduct. Inappropriate comments, sexually suggestive humor, unnecessary physical contact, unwelcome electronic communications or exploiting a dentist-patient relationship for personal gain can all erode trust and expose providers to disciplinary action. Even behavior that a practitioner considers harmless may very well be perceived differently by a patient receiving care in a vulnerable setting. As dental practices increasingly focus on the patient experience, maintaining respectful interactions is both an ethical imperative and a business necessity.
Respecting professional boundaries strengthens patient confidence, reduces legal and regulatory risk, and reinforces the public’s trust in the dental profession.
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