Promoting Evidenced-based Dentistry through “The Dental Practice-Based Research Network”

This article focuses on dental practice-based research networks (PBRNs) as one of the solutions to the oftentimes slow and inefficient process of translating research evidence into clinical practice. This article identifies two major issues that are faced when setting up a dental practice-based research network. Using a dental practice-based research network that the author is involved with as an example, this article then discusses what is involved in undertaking a research project in your office. Also discussed are the types of projects being done in this new setting and how this author believes these studies will be one of the bridges toward developing evidenced based dentistry in private practice.

Keywords: Practice Based Research Networks (PBRN), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), Dental Practice-Based Research Network (DPBRN)