‘Satisficing’ in dentistry: who decides? who benefits?

Abstract

This series of articles challenges some popular myths about supposedly ‘ideal’ treatment plans, and is designed to provoke reflection and stimulate debate. It explains the concept of ‘satisficing’ (as opposed to ‘maximizing’) in dentistry, and illustrates how subconscious bias and self-interests might lead supposed experts to promote arbitrary aspirational standards and confuse them with what the law expects (the Bolam Test standard) and what is genuinely in the best interests of an individual patient. It is argued that sound, patient-centred pragmatic planning and treatment is equally valid, with wider applicability than routinely defaulting to a self-serving ‘maximalist’ approach, often on spurious grounds. CPD/Clinical Relevance: The ‘satisficing’ concept has wide and profound application across many fields of dentistry; this first part explains the basic principles and how and why it is relevant to various aspects of practical dentistry and also to our understanding of professionalism.