Evidence-based dentistry is the science which carries out research which provides the most reliable form of evidence for clinical disciplines. Only several robust randomised controlled trials can generate evidence. A survey of available publications of the Oral Health Group (part of the Cochrane Institute) proves that there is at this moment only limited robust evidence for dentistry. In the near future little evidence will emerge from Dutch sources (Dutch trial register). Due to inferior design and practice randomised controlled trials often lack quality. Biases, like selection-bias, information-bias and confounding-bias, must be taken into consideration while reading reports. Prejudices, bad tendencies, errors, external influences and stubbornness all occur often in research practice. Many years of research, involving many test cases, a great deal of money and personnel have, up to the present time, produced little evidence. Just a few ‘random subjects’ in dentistry and assertions concerning the use of fluoride can be considered evidence-based-proof.
Geaccrediteerde nascholing
