912 Evidence-Based Dentistry for the Clinician

In dental practice, uncertainties in what, when, why, where, and how to service patient dental needs may challenge decision-making. While patients may present with complexities in their physical, mental, and social well-being, as well as disease and infirmities, they want to be part of decision-making. Evidence-based dentistry allows for this shared decision-making in reaching optimal clinical decisions that meet individual patient needs and expectations. This course is designed to enhance the understanding of Evidence-Based Dental Practice and to develop a connection between researcher, clinician and patient. In preparation for understanding these roles, dentists will participate in the assessment, evaluation and skill to distinguish good vs. bad research for engaging in decision-making using best evidence. The outcome of this participation is training in development and use of clinical practice guidelines for practicing dentists. A case presentation will be used to apply the knowledge gained and used in the course.

This course will:

• Provide the necessary skills in assessment, evaluation, and treatment planning utilizing the Clinical Decision Tree of Oral Health by using a case study of an older patient with uncertain treatment options
• Provide knowledge regarding the evidence-based dentistry concept
• Provide the knowledge to establish quickly and reliably what constitutes “good” or “bad” research related to the case study
• Provide elements by which dentists can effectively distinguish between statistical and clinical relevance
• Provide the skills necessary to develop clinical guidelines regarding any given case
• Apply the clinical practice guidelines to shared decision-making

Topics

• Aging and its impact on clinical decision-making
• Physical assessment, evaluation, and function
• Clinical Decision Tree of Oral Health
• Development of the case study clinical question in acquiring best evidence
• Understanding the clinician-translational researcher compact: From clinical to research synthesis
• Process of developing best evidence using translational research skills
• Developing the clinical practice guideline for the case study
• Applying the case clinical practice guideline to shared decision-making
• Decision analysis
• Case presentation/Case study

Instructors

Janet Bauer, DDS, MS
Associate Professor, Division of Restorative Dentistry; Director, June and Paul Ehrlich Endowed Program in Geriatric Dentistry, UCLA