Evidence Based Dentistry

Question 1

What is EBD?

Answer 1

Evidence Based Dentistry

Question 2

Diagram: 3-part harmony

- all optimize treatment outcomes

Answer 2

1. Best evidence – evaluation of the best available scientific evidence
2. Clinical judgment – recognition of your own clinical expertise
3. Patient values – understanding patients’ needs and preferences

Question 3

Why would you use EBD?

Answer 3

Not simply just reporting the findings of the study or considering just one study. It seeks to evaluate all scientific evidence on a specific topic. This allows us to broaden our treatment options by using more current evidence.

Question 4

The steps in developing an evidence based approach to practice is:

Answer 4

1. Determining your clinical question using PICO
2. Searching for best available evidence to answer this question
3. Critically appraising the evidence and applying it to the particular clinical scenarios that motivated the question

Question 5

Hierarchy of Evidence

Answer 5

Hierarchy based on ability to control for bias and to demonstrate cause and effect in humans