Essential domains, core outcome sets, and measurements to capture benefits and harms of implant dentistry interventions: The ID-COSM initiative.

Abstract

Consensus on a valid and comprehensive set of outcomes to capture the full benefits and harms of implant dentistry interventions is key for progress towards better clinical guidelines and policy. In this field, outcome research remains fragmented and uses too many different outcomes. Accordingly, such efforts are still unable to cover the full breadth necessary to properly evaluate benefits, harms, and costs. Best practice examples from medicine have inspired the Implant Dentistry Core Outcome Set and Measurements (ID-COSM) initiative that identified four core outcome domain areas (pathophysiology, implant/prosthesis lifespan, life impact, and access to care) and five essential outcomes mandatory for all trials, plus six others that are mandatory in specific circumstances. The innovative multistep approach has combined input from scientific evidence, patients from multiple countries, methodologists, and industry representatives. It is an important step. The ID-COSM consensus aspires to contribute to better adoption of relevant and valid outcomes in trials and enable combining their results in high-quality meta-analyses to support better informed care and policy.