You’ve been practising at the same dental hygiene clinic for years. As the holiday season approaches, some clients may wish to give you a gift as a token of appreciation. Is this act of gratitude appropriate?

To accept or not to accept?

While giving a gift is often a harmless show of appreciation, it can run the risk of inappropriately altering the therapeutic relationship and has the potential to complicate matters. In this scenario, consider the gift’s value and whether accepting it might influence your clinical decision-making.

Small tokens of appreciation may be acceptable, such as:

• Baked goods that can be shared with clinic staff
• Low-value gift cards (e.g., for coffee or fast-food restaurants)
• Handwritten thank-you or holiday cards.

However, significant gifts, money, or anything personal are never appropriate. These may indicate that the client is developing a personal relationship with you, holds you in excessive regard, or expects something in return. A simple way to determine if a gift is appropriate is to ask yourself, Would I feel comfortable if a colleague knew about this gift? If the answer is no, it’s best to politely decline.