PRACMAN 1ST LECTURE

• Dentistry is not a dying profession as long as people continue to eat, and dentistry will always find a place in society.
• Operate safely
• There is an entrepreneurial component to practicing dentistry.
• Operate efficiently
• Be productive
• Create a profit
• Utilize technology
• Practice refers to the practice of a profession, as defined in Resolution No. 2012-668, series of 2012, section 1.
• Dental Practice is an activity or undertaking rendered by a registered and licensed professional dentist as defined in the scope of practice of a professional regulatory law.
• A Dentist refers to a person who is a holder of a valid certificate of registration and professional identification card in Dentistry who renders dental service within the meaning and intent of this Law and who, for a fee, salary, compensation, or reward, paid to him/her or through another, or even without such compensation or reward, performs any operation or part of an operation upon the human oral cavity, jaws, teeth and surrounding tissues; prescribes drugs or medicines for the treatment of oral diseases or lesions, or prevents and corrects malpositions of the teeth or implantation of art
• Just because one is given authority to collect fees for their services doesn’t mean that they can charge exorbitantly, that is unethical.
• Management is a process of planning, decision making, organizing, leading, motivation and controlling the human resources, financial, physical and information resources of an organization to reach its goals efficiently and effectively.
• Dental Practice Management is the process by which efforts of dental practitioners are coordinated and combined with other resources to accomplish organizational goals and objectives.
• As a business, a dentist must practice ethically.
• Service is a system of accommodating or providing assistance to another person.
• Profession focuses on service of the community as primary intention and profits are secondary.
• Academic acquisition and technical expertise is essential to join a profession as it sets one apart from business.
• However, even if there’s no law, making it legal, it is still UNETHICAL.
• Business is an enterprise in which one is engaged to achieve a livelihood.
• Practice Management is the carrying on of the business aspect of the practice.
• The very true foundation of this profession is on the existence of trust between the patient and dentist.
• Profession is a job requiring some thought, skill and special knowledge as well as training in that particular field.
• The criterion for success of a profession is the quality of service rendered more than the monetary gain that one accrues as a business.
• Always base your acts according to the Code of Ethics.
• The basis of legality is always a law, while ethics is dictated by your conscience.
• E.g., charging unreasonably higher than what is mandated – IF there’s a law or memorandum that states that you cannot charge higher than 500 PHP for the extraction of a root fragment, then charging higher is ILLEGAL.
• Entrepreneurship refers to the concept of developing and managing a business venture in order to gain profit by taking several risks.
• Dentistry has two products: healthcare service (intangible product) and restoration, prostheses, etc. (tangible products) in exchange for a profit to achieve a livelihood.
• Management is the ability to analyze needs, recognize the need for help from other professionals, initiate procedures which will help be more systemic and efficient, carry on with personal and business conduct in a flexible yet controlled manner, and carry on a globally profitable business ethically and with respect for relevant law.