Evidence-based dentistry: A new dimension in oral health

The success of evidence-based medicine depends on the integration of the best research evidence. It is a blend of our patient’s unique values and circumstances with our clinical expertise. Evidence-based dentistry is a new paradigm in medicine, meaning that a therapy should be based on evidence gathered from scientifi c studies, preferentially based on randomized clinical trials involving a substantial number of patients. There are three main inter-related aspects to the practice of oral medicine. They are clinical care, research, learning, and teaching. Most of the oral diseases are complex, chronic problems that do not have defi nitive etiology. Many diagnostic tests are costly and need to be critically evaluated for their sensitivity, specifi city and cost benefi ts analysis. Most treatment protocols are opinion based, and prognosis of many oral diseases is diffi cult to predict. Hence, practice of evidence-based health care in oral medicine will defi nitely be helpful when clinical decisions are made.