SynthesisBMC medical ethics2025
Aesthetic dentistry and ethics: a systematic review of marketing practices and overtreatment in cosmetic dental procedures.
Synthesis in BMC medical ethics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- Review
- Laboratory and Clinical Efficacy of 6% Hydrogen Peroxide At-Home Whitening Systems with Custom Trays.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Structural Accountability and Practice-Level Governance as Dual Pathways to Accreditation-Seeking Intention in Private Dental Practice: Evidence from a Mixed Public-Private Healthcare System.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Ethical challenges in aesthetic dentistry: a qualitative exploration.BMC medical ethics · 2026Article
- The Impact of Orthodontic-Related Social Media Content on Patients' Willingness to Initiate Treatment: A Systematic Review.Dentistry journal · 2026Review
- Factors influencing dentists' choice of restorative materials for occlusal cavities: a cross-sectional study from Palestine.BMJ open · 2026Observational
- The Effect of Adhesive Systems on Shade Matching of Composite Veneer.Dentistry journal · 2026Article
- Feasibility of a multi-metric framework for evaluating patient-facing AI communication in cosmetic dentistry: an exploratory proof-of-concept study.Frontiers in oral health · 2026Article
- Commercial determinants of oral health in India: implications for research and policy- a perspective.Frontiers in oral health · 2026Article
- Perceptibility and Acceptability of Tooth and Gingival Shade Modifications in Digital Smile Images: A Comparative Study Among Laypeople, General Dentists, and Specialists.Dentistry journal · 2025Article
- Adopting a comprehensive approach to minimize the impact of social media on dental esthetics.Journal of conservative dentistry and endodontics · 2025Article
- An In Vitro Evaluation of the Effect of Ceramic Material, Surface Treatment, and Adhesive Cement on Shear Bond Strength in Prosthodontics.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe increasing societal emphasis on physical appearance, particularly influenced by social media, has led to a significant rise in demand for aesthetic dentistry procedures. This study aims to explore the ethical dimensions of marketing practices and the phenomenon of overtreatment in cosmetic dental procedures, highlighting the implications for patient care and professional integrity.
methodsA systematic literature review was conducted across four databases, yielding an initial 76 articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 articles were selected for analysis. The review focused on ethical considerations, marketing practices, and overtreatment in aesthetic dentistry, employing narrative synthesis to extract relevant data.
resultsThe findings indicate that social media is a primary driver of patient expectations, often prioritizing aesthetic outcomes over health considerations. This trend raises ethical concerns about informed consent and autonomy. The commodification of dental care, fueled by aggressive marketing strategies, has resulted in a notable increase in overtreatment, where unnecessary procedures are performed to satisfy commercial pressures and idealized beauty standards. The review highlights a lack of robust ethical guidelines governing marketing practices in aesthetic dentistry, exacerbating these issues.
conclusionsThe study underscores the urgent need for clear ethical frameworks to guide dental practitioners in balancing patient welfare with business interests. Recommendations include the implementation of ethics education in dental curricula, the development of comprehensive ethical guidelines, and fostering open communication between practitioners and patients. These measures are essential for enhancing informed decision-making and ensure that patient care remains the priority in aesthetic dentistry.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.