Evidence-based practice and barriers to compliance: Face bow transfer

Area of Science:

• Dental education
• Prosthodontics
• Evidence-based dentistry

Background:

• The face bow transfer is a technique used in complete denture fabrication.
• Previous studies have questioned the clinical efficacy of the face bow transfer.
• Compliance with evidence-based practices in dental education is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current prevalence of face bow transfer (FBT) teaching in US dental schools.
• To compare current FBT teaching rates with a 2003 study.
• To investigate potential reasons for non-compliance with clinical evidence regarding FBT.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 54 US dental schools.
• The survey replicated questions from a 2003 study on FBT curriculum content.
• Data were collected in 2015 to track changes over time.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of teaching face bow transfer increased significantly from 84% in 2003 to 93.75% in 2015.
• A majority of surveyed dental schools continue to teach FBT.
• This increase occurred despite a lack of compelling evidence supporting its use.

Conclusions:

• The continued teaching of face bow transfer in dental schools is not supported by robust clinical evidence.
• Reasons for non-compliance with best evidence may include tradition, perceived clinical benefit, or lack of awareness.
• Further investigation into the factors influencing curriculum decisions in dental education is warranted.