Dentist Journals and Research Studies

As a dentist, it is important to keep on top of current news and topics and ensure that you are up to date on the latest research studies that may affect your clinical practice. Some dental practitioners like to joke that they don't perform real medicine, but there is still a lot of science behind what they do and why they do it.

One of the most common resources for tracking advances in dental research are the magazines that are written and published by fellow practitioners in the dental field. As a dentist, it is your job to read and critically analyze these studies to determine how the results affect you or your patients.

One of the most common types of research clinical trials is the double-blind study. In this type of study, a form of treatment is compared against no treatment and the results are analyzed to be significant or insignificant. It is important to note that in these studies, both the researcher and the participant are blind to the internal workings of the study. Meaning that the dentist or the patient is aware if they are actually getting the treatment protocol or the placebo. This is important because it helps prevent confounding variables from adjusting the results of the study. Most scientific organizations believe the results of a double blind study to be more scientifically sound and more valid than results in which the dentist and the patients are aware of which group is control and which group is treatment.

As a dentist, it is important to keep these factors in mind when evaluating research studies that you read in a journal or magazine. Critical review involves taking many factors into consideration and is important before changing any of your clinical practice or altering your judgment when it comes to patient care. Critical review of case analysis may help you make dramatic improvements in the way you care for your patients and the way you handle their oral health and hygiene. Patients trust their dentist to stay on top of the latest advances in techniques and technologies in order to ensure the utmost in their health protection. Most of the regular patients do not have the education level to make changes based on recent clinical advances in evidence. As such, it is important that you help them make these improvements based on your recommendations. Scientific research is continually evolving and making significant advances in medical care for oral health and hygiene. You owe it to your patients to stay abreast of recent advances that can make them more healthy.