[Evidence-based management of temporomandibular dysfunction. Think before you begin!].
Nowadays, dentists are expected to base their treatment decisions on the strongest available evidence. This so-called evidence-based approach has four steps: the formulation of a clinical problem, the search for evidence, the evaluation of the evidence, and the treatment of the patient. As part of this approach, the strongest evidence comes from systematic reviews, which are free of any author-related bias. Since working according to the principles of evidence-based dentistry is time consuming, dental schools should assist general practitioners through producing sufficient numbers of high-quality systematic reviews. The ever-increasing emancipation of patients stresses the need of adopting the principles of evidence-based dentistry. 'Think twice' should be the motto.
Lobbezoo
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Uit de afdeling Orale Functieleer, sectie voor Orale Kinesiologie, van het Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde Amsterdam (ACTA). f.lobbezoo@acta.nl
Naeije
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D003813:Dentistry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome