THE LIABILITY OF THE DENTISTI: LIMITS AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

This article sought to discuss the responsibility of dentist’s beyond the technical and clinical dimension, encompassing ethical, legal, and social aspects that directly affect the professional-patient relationship. Given the increasing number of lawsuits against dental professionals, this study aims to analyze the limits and legal implications of dental responsibility, focusing on civil, criminal, and ethical dimensions. This research consists of an integrative literature review, carried out in SciELO, LILACS, and CAPES Journals databases, including articles published between 2020 and 2025, in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. A total of 06 studies met the eligibility criteria. The results show that the main causes of liability are related to communication failures, lack of adequate informed consent, and insufficient clinical documentation. Furthermore, findings reveal that the judicialization of health care reinforces the need for dentists to acquire legal and ethical knowledge, as well as the inclusion of forensic dentistry in academic training. It is concluded that the dentist’s practice must be guided not only by technical competence but also by strict compliance with legal and ethical standards, with emphasis on clinical documentation, informed consent, and patient data protection in accordance with the LGPD.