Abstract:
People have contemplated what it entails to be good and
to do good. Philosophers propose that being good is
an idea about yourself or others, while doing good is an
action, towards yourself or others. Other theorists feel
that those who want to ‘be good’ actually want to ‘be
seen as good’, while those who strive to ‘do good’ are
more concerned with following some calling or moral
character. If we consider the dental situation, it raises the
question of whether the motivation to do good should
reign over the practical delivery of good dental treatment.
This brings up many new considerations related to being
good and doing good, and whether we are looking
at good in terms of the practical performance of the clinical
work or in terms of addressing the patient’s best
interests and welfare.
This paper will explore some of the interesting dilemmas
that clinicians may face in their daily practices. It aims to
raise their awareness of the differences between patients’
demands, actual needs, as well as their own philosophy
towards treatment provision.
