Bioethics was created in response to emerging conflicts in clinical medicine caused by advances in the scientific and technological revolution in the middle of the last century, which, in turn, reshaped the relationship between practitioners and their patients. The purpose of this article is to point out ways to overcome this clinical crisis and to help build a more balanced and responsive relationship between doctor and patient in dental practice. It is important that dentists do not treat the patient as a passive subject of health care delivery, but treat patients as individuals with rights and expectations, with the ability to stimulate their interest and energy to actively participate as beneficiaries and partners in decision-making before, during and after provision of dental services.