title: A primer on outcomes in dentistry.
abstract: Expectations for evidence of "value" on the part of dental care purchasers and growth in the evidence-based dentistry movement are beginning to demonstrate the narrow and incomplete nature of dentistry's knowledge of the outcomes of dental conditions and treatment. In this paper a classification scheme for dental outcomes is described that illustrates the broad range of outcomes information important to patients, health care providers, purchasers, and society. The uses for outcomes information are discussed and suggestions are offered for improving dentistry's knowledge of outcomes through the cooperative involvement of dental research, dental education, and dental practice.
authors.affiliation: Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7590, USA. jim_bader@unc.edu
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Ismail
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics; D018865:Dental Research; D003813:Dentistry; D003815:Dentists; D004497:Education, Dental; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental; D009909:Oral Health; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010361:Patients; D011636:Public Health Dentistry; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care