Definitions and references of Evidence Based Dentistry (EBD)

‘Evidence-based medicine is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of best evidence in making decisions about care of individual patients’ [1].

As the area has developed over the ensuing years this has been modified to:

‘Evidence-based medicine is the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values.’ [2]

The American Dental Association (ADA) [3] has defined Evidence-based dentistry as an approach to oral health care that requires the judicious integration of:

• Systematic assessments of clinically relevant scientific evidence, relating to the patient’s oral and medical condition and history, together with the
• Dentist’s clinical expertise and
• The patient’s treatment needs and preferences

Delegates at the second international conference of Evidence-based health care teachers in Sicily discussed the need for a clear definition of what constitutes evidence-based practice (EBP), what skills are needed to practice in an Evidence-based manner and a curriculum that outlines the minimum requirements for training health professionals in EBP. They produced the Sicily consensus statement on Evidence-based practice [3].

References

1. David L Sackett, William M C Rosenberg, J A Muir Gray, R Brian Haynes, and W Scott Richardson. Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn’t. BMJ 1996; 312: 71-72
2. https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/evidence-based-dental-research
3. Dawes, M., Summerskill, W., Glasziou, P., Cartabellotta, A., Martin, J., Hopayian, K., … & Osborne, J. (2005). Sicily statement on evidence-based practice. BMC medical education, 5, 1-7.

Other key links

Journal articles

• Richards, D., & Lawrence, A. (1995). Evidence based dentistry. British Dental Journal, 179(7), 270-273.

Series on Evidence-based Dentistry from the Canadian Dental Journal

• Part I Getting Started
• Part II Searching for Answers to Clinical Questions: How to Use MEDLINE
• Part III Searching for Answers to Clinical Questions: Finding E-vidence on the Internet
• Part IV Research Design and Levels of Evidence
• Part V Critical Appraisal of the Dental Literature – Papers about Therapy
• Part VI Critical Appraisal of the Dental Literature: Papers about Diagnosis, Etiology and Prognosis

Link to Canadian Dental Journal homepage

Evidence-based Health Care Reference

• Users Guide to Medical Literature (JAMA  -Evidence)