Evidence-Based Dentistry

Evidence-based dentistry (EBD) integrates the best available scientific evidence with clinical expertise and patient values to enhance dental care outcomes. Rooted in the broader field of evidence-based medicine (EBM) that emerged in the early 1990s, EBD was formalized in the late 1990s and early 2000s to adapt these principles specifically for dentistry. Professional bodies like the American Dental Association (ADA) have been instrumental in promoting EBD through guidelines, continuing education, and research funding. At its core, EBD relies on three fundamental principles: the best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values and preferences.