A 14-year-old pregnant patient comes for a cleaning with her parents who are unaware of her pregnancy. What should the dentist do?

Correct answer: B. Perform the cleaning and advise her to be honest with her parents, without disclosing her pregnancy

• A. Incorrect. Routine dental care for a pregnant teen should not be refused. Emergency care and basic preventive care can be provided; in many states minors can consent to dental care independently.
• B. Correct. The dentist should PROVIDE THE CLEANING (routine care) and ADVISE the patient to be honest with her parents — without the dentist directly disclosing her pregnancy. In most jurisdictions, minors have the right to confidentiality regarding reproductive health matters. The dentist encourages disclosure but cannot force it.
• C. Incorrect. Disclosing the patient's pregnancy to her parents without her consent violates patient CONFIDENTIALITY, even for a minor in many jurisdictions (especially for reproductive health).
• D. Incorrect. Delegating the disclosure to an assistant still constitutes a confidentiality breach.