title: Quality of reporting of descriptive studies in implant dentistry. Critical aspects in design, outcome assessment and clinical relevance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to conduct a review on quality of reporting on descriptive studies in implant dentistry using the STROBE Statement and to analyse possible changes in quality of reporting on descriptive studies in implant dentistry over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  A hand search to select descriptive studies was carried out in seven dental journals, which were thought to have interest in the field of dental implants. Issues of the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010 were screened. The STROBE Statement with 22 criteria to match was used to determine the quality of an article.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Totally 4657 titles and abstracts were screened; 260 of them were found to be reporting on a descriptive study. Percentages of properly addressed items were 46% in 1990, 56% in 1995, 54% in 2000, 59% in 2005 and 70% in 2010.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From this review can be concluded that quality of reporting on descriptive studies in implant dentistry is low; there is some improvement from 1990 to 2010, but it does not exceed 70% coverage of the possible to address items.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. h.j.a.meijer@umcg.nl
authors.forename: Henny J A
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: Gerry M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Raghoebar
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants