A patient has extensive caries and periodontal disease with 8 of 10 remaining teeth classified as non-restorable. The patient has limited financial resources and declines full denture extraction. What treatment is MOST appropriate to respect patient autonomy?

Correct answer: A. Retain the two restorable teeth and provide a partial denture over them (overdenture/hybrid approach)

• A. CORRECT. Respecting patient AUTONOMY means presenting all viable treatment options and accommodating patient preferences within ethical and clinical bounds. If the patient declines complete extractions, the dentist can restore and retain the two restorable teeth, extract only the non-restorable eight, and provide a removable partial denture (or implant-retained overdenture) over the remaining teeth — achieving the best possible outcome while honoring the patient's wishes.
• B. Extracting all teeth against the patient's wishes violates autonomy, even if the dentist believes it is clinically simpler.
• C. Referral without providing any treatment abandons the patient and does not address their dental needs.
• D. Emergency-only care and discharge without discussing options violates the patient's right to informed consent and comprehensive treatment planning.