Ethical considerations in dental epidemiological studies.

Interpretation of the guidelines for ethical considerations in epidemiological studies requires defining a position of delicate balance. The goal must be to protect the rights, the health, and the dignity of study participants to the extent possible, while at the same time placing as few inhibitions as possible on the conduct of the research. The end result must therefore be a compromise, because these two requirements are inherently in conflict. The elements of this compromise are not static, for social philosophies change over time. What society considers the ideal balance between protection of the individual