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Evidence-Based Dentistry: About EBD

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Evidence-Based Dentistry eBook

Dentistry Librarian

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Emily Jones, MLIS, AHIP
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What is Evidence Based Dentistry?

The American Dental Association defines evidence based dentistry (EBD) 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, with the dentist's clinical expertise and the patient's treatment needs and preferences."

Venn Diagram of the 3 parts of EBD

EBD integrates: 

the dentist's expertise, 

the best available scientific evidence, 

and the patient's needs and preferences.

EBD 5 Step Process

The EBD process is a structured approach to identifying and using the best information relevant to a particular clinical problem. It follows these 5 steps:

1. ASK 

Ask a clear question based on the patient's clinical problem.

2. ACQUIRE

Acquire the latest relevant research by conducting a comprehensive literature search.

3. APPRAISE

Critically appraise, or evaluate, the evidence.

4. APPLY

Apply the evidence in patient care.

5. ASSESS

Assess the impact on practice and patient care.

EBD Article Series from JADA

The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) published a series of short commentaries explaining evidence-based dentistry concepts and detailing how to incorporate it into practice. Click on the links below for full-text access (UNC Chapel Hill affiliates only).

A Practical Approach to Evidence-Based Dentistry : Articles I-X

  1. Brignardello-Petersen R, Carrasco-Labra A, Glick M, Guyatt GH, Azarpazhooh A. A practical approach to evidence-based dentistry: understanding and applying the principles of EBD. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2014 Nov;145(11):1105-7. doi:10.14219/jada.2014.102.
  2. Brignardello-Petersen R, Carrasco-Labra A, Booth HA, Glick M, Guyatt GH,Azarpazhooh A, Agoritsas T. A practical approach to evidence-based dentistry: How to search for evidence to inform clinical decisions. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2014 Dec;145(12):1262-7. doi: 10.14219/jada.2014.113.
  3. Brignardello-Petersen R, Carrasco-Labra A, Glick M, Guyatt GH, Azarpazhooh A. A practical approach to evidence-based dentistry: III: how to appraise and use an article about therapy. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2015 Jan;146(1):42-49.e1. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2014.11.010.
  4. Brignardello-Petersen R, Carrasco-Labra A, Glick M, Guyatt GH, Azarpazhooh A. A practical approach to evidence-based dentistry: IV: how to use an article about harm. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2015 Feb;146(2):94-101.e1. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2014.12.002.
  5. Brignardello-Petersen R, Carrasco-Labra A, Glick M, Guyatt GH, Azarpazhooh A. A practical approach to evidence-based dentistry: V: how to appraise and use an article about diagnosis. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2015 Mar;146(3):184-191.e1. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2015.01.011.
  6. Carrasco-Labra A, Brignardello-Petersen R, Glick M, Guyatt GH, Azarpazhooh A. A practical approach to evidence-based dentistry: VI: How to use a systematic review. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2015 Apr;146(4):255-65.e1. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2015.01.025.
  7. Carrasco-Labra A, Brignardello-Petersen R, Glick M, Guyatt GH, Neumann I,Azarpazhooh A. A practical approach to evidence-based dentistry: VII: How to use patient management recommendations from clinical practice guidelines. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2015 May;146(5):327-336.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2015.03.015.
  8. Sale JE, Amin M, Carrasco-Labra A, Brignardello-Petersen R, Glick M, GuyattGH, Azarpazhooh A. A practical approach to evidence-based dentistry: VIII: How to appraise an article based on a qualitative study. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2015 Aug;146(8):623-30. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2015.06.010.
  9. Abrahamyan L, Pechlivanoglou P, Krahn M, Carrasco-Labra A, Brignardello-Petersen R, Glick M, Guyatt GH, Azarpazhooh A. A practical approach to evidence-based dentistry: IX: how to appraise and use an article about economic analysis. J Am Dent Assoc. 2015 Sep;146(9):679-689.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2015.06.021. PubMed PMID: 26314977.
  10. Carrasco-Labra A, Brignardello-Petersen R, Azarpazhooh A, Glick M, Guyatt GH. A practical approach to evidence-based dentistry: X: How to avoid being misled by clinical studies' results in dentistry. J Am Dent Assoc. 2015 Dec;146(12):919-24. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2015.08.008. PubMed PMID: 26610837.