Ethics in dental education: A curriculum-based approach

Ethics in dental education plays a fundamental role in shaping professional identity, strengthening clinical judgment, and promoting patient-centered care. Given the interpersonal nature of dentistry and the high degree of clinical autonomy practitioners exercise, an ethical framework is essential to balance technical competence with moral responsibility. This narrative review synthesizes literature from PubMed, Google Scholar, and policy documents published between 1999 and 2025, examining the evolution of ethics pedagogy, implementation strategies, and the development of moral competence in dental training. Over time, global trends demonstrate a transition from predominantly lecture-based teaching toward experiential and competency-based models that emphasize reflective practice, empathy, accountability, and professionalism. In the Indian context, curricular guidance from the Indian Dental Association Code of Ethics (2014) and reforms introduced by the Dental Council of India provide a structured ethical foundation; however, challenges persist in terms of faculty preparedness, integration across academic years, and standardization of assessment methods. The findings highlight the need to reposition ethics from a theoretical subject to a longitudinal, application-oriented competency embedded throughout the curriculum. Integrating moral reasoning, digital ethics, and professionalism within a structured curriculum framework is essential to cultivate ethically resilient dental practitioners capable of responding effectively to evolving healthcare, technological, and societal challenges.