Evidence-Based Pain Management: Dispelling Disinformation in Dentistry.

Abstract

According to the American Dental Association Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct, dental professionals hold a special position of trust and privilege within society, and thus are bound to adhere to the highest standards of conduct. This code of ethics defines key tenets, including veracity, patient autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Maintaining these ethical principles goes beyond the competent delivery of operative care and requires up-to-date, evidence-based knowledge and practices on the part of clinicians.1 With pain management being a key component of endodontics practice, clinicians must maintain their knowledge on the most effective evidence-based pain management strategies to ethically care for their patients.