Answering Clinical Questions using the Principles of Evidence-Based Dentistry

In an effort to improve health care outcomes, there has been a focused movement by national organizations such as the American Dental Association (ADA) to embed the principles of evidence-based dentistry (EBD) into mainstream care delivered by private practicing dentists. Although many dentists may garner benefits from EBD, some may encounter barriers including the time it takes to review evidence or identifying reliable resources. However, recent advances in electronic clinical decision support (CDS) have enabled busy and even novice EBD practitioners to implement the foundational elements of EBD and evidence-based decision making (EBDM) into clinical care. Evidence identified using CDS tools can be applied to implant and restorative dentistry treatment planning in the clinical setting and results discussed with patients during information-sharing doctor-patient consultations to make sound EBD-based health care decisions.

Key Words: Evidence-based dentistry, fixed partial dentures, dental implants, metal-ceramic crowns, evidence-based decision-making, clinical decision support, private practice