Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate dentists' perceptions regarding the need for disciplinary action against unethical dental practices, appropriate levels of punishment, and necessary improvements to related systems and environments. Materials and Methods: An online self-administered survey was distributed to 28,949 members of the Korean Dental Association, and responses from 2,063 dentists were included in the final analysis. The questionnaire cov- ered demographic characteristics, types of misconduct, preferred disciplinary levels, and opinions on systemic improvements. Frequency and chi-square analyses were conducted. Results: “Illegal dental clinics operated by non-dentists” were identified as the most serious unethical practice (49.3%), and “license revocation” (48.3%) was viewed as the most appropriate disciplinary action. Other miscon- ducts, such as delegated treatment, over-treatment, and illegal advertising, were primarily associated with “license suspension.” As for improvement strategies, “Improved medical fee” (45.0%) and “adjusting dental school enroll- ment” (28.3%) were the most frequently cited. Significant associations were found between perceived misconduct types and preferred disciplinary actions and reforms (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dentists recognize the need for strict disciplinary measures and structural reforms to address unethi- cal behavior. Emphasis was placed on the establishment of a professional self-regulation system, as well as parallel improvements in the fee system and workforce distribution policies. The findings of this study provide foundational evidence for policy development toward effective disciplinary and regulatory systems in dentistry. (J Korean Dent Assoc 2025; 63(9): 290-297)