August 2, 2005
Over the past several years, dentists have become increasingly familiar with the term "evidence based clinical practice." It implies two key points: One, a systematic review of the existing scientific literature has been performed on a given treatment or procedure, and, two, the results of the review offer an invaluable resource for practitioners to make informed, science-based decisions about the care of individual patients. In the August issue of the journal Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology, an NIDCR grantee and colleague apply evidence-based principles to answer the question: What is the risk of periodontal defects on the distal aspect of the mandibular second molar following third molar removal? To find the answer, read more about this paper by Richardson and Dodson.