Need for evidence-based practice in prosthodontics

Patients, their insurers, the courts, and the scientific community are demanding more evidence to support the effectiveness of health care strategies.

This article describes evidence-based practice, its origins, and value as a way of addressing the demand for evidence of treatment effectiveness in maxillofacial prosthetics.

A limited review of maxillofacial prosthetics literature was performed using Medline over the years 1966 to 1998. The retrieved articles were classified by methodologic design and assessed for the strength of their evidence.

Focused and speedy (but not necessarily comprehensive) literature searching methods are available. Critical appraisal skills are available and needed to assess the quality of evidence in support of a treatment and to maintain clinical skills.

With appropriate skills and the availability of literature searching hardware and software, evidence-based practice is a powerful means for the practitioner to establish the effectiveness of individual patient treatment, and to prevent the diminution of clinical skills over the course of a career. These skills should be included in training programs.