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Application of evidence‐based dentistry: from research to clinical periodontal practice
Author(s) -
Kwok Vivien,
Caton Jack G.,
Polson Alan M.,
Hunter Paul G.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
periodontology 2000
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.725
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1600-0757
pISSN - 0906-6713
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0757.2011.00437.x
Subject(s) - evidence based dentistry , medicine , protocol (science) , clinical practice , medline , scientific evidence , patient care , evidence based medicine , medical education , medical physics , alternative medicine , nursing , pathology , philosophy , epistemology , political science , law
Dentists need to make daily decisions regarding patient care, and these decisions should essentially be scientifically sound. Evidence‐based dentistry is meant to empower clinicians to provide the most contemporary treatment. The benefits of applying the evidence‐based method in clinical practice include application of the most updated treatment and stronger reasoning to justify the treatment. A vast amount of information is readily accessible with today’s digital technology, and a standardized search protocol can be developed to ensure that a literature search is valid, specific and repeatable. It involves developing a preset question ( p opulation, i ntervention, c omparison and o utcome; PICO) and search protocol. It is usually used academically to perform commissioned reviews, but it can also be applied to answer simple clinical queries. The scientific evidence thus obtained can then be considered along with patient preferences and values, clinical patient circumstances and the practitioner’s experience and judgment in order to make the treatment decision. This paper describes how clinicians can incorporate evidence‐based methods into patient care and presents a clinical example to illustrate the process.