A patient reports that another dentist told her she had six carious lesions, but you find only one interproximal lesion. She asks why. What is the BEST response?

Correct answer: B. Explain that diagnostic interpretation can legitimately differ between clinicians, show her your findings, and offer a conservative approach with monitoring

• A. Accusing a colleague of dishonesty without evidence is unprofessional and may constitute defamation. Genuine fraud is reportable, but a difference in diagnostic threshold is not fraud.
• B. CORRECT. Different clinicians apply different thresholds for restorative intervention — one may restore incipient enamel lesions while another remineralizes and monitors them. Explaining this honestly, showing the patient her own radiographs and clinical findings, and offering a conservative plan with defined recall respects both patient AUTONOMY and professional courtesy, without disparaging a colleague.
• C. Refusing to engage abandons the patient's legitimate question and undermines trust.
• D. Providing treatment you do not believe is indicated violates non-maleficence and constitutes over-treatment.

Note: ADA Principle of Veracity plus the prohibition on disparaging colleagues. Explain the difference; do not assign blame.