Benefits and limitations of evidence-based dentistry in the Indian context

The American Dental Association defines the evidence-based dentistry (EBD) as “an approach to oral health care that requires the integration of systematic assessments of clinically relevant scientific evidence, relating to the patient’s oral and medical condition and history, with the dentist’s clinical expertise and the patient’s treatment needs and preferences” [1]. Nowadays, evidence-based care is regarded as the gold stan- dard in health care delivery. Published reports of research pro- jects constitute the basis of EBD. They are analyzed systemati- cally in meta-analysis.