The History of Evidence-Based Dentistry in the ADA

Abstract

Although it can be said that the American Dental Association (ADA) has always had an interest in Evidence-Based Dentistry (EBD), the Association initiated an active role in EBD in February 1999 when the ADA Board of Trustees (BOT) addressed this new approach to clinical practice by adopting the following resolution (B-18-1999): Resolved, that a task force be convened to determine the Association’s role in EBD as it relates to patient care, and be it further Resolved, that the task force be comprised of two members of the Council on Scientific Affairs (CSA), with one CSA member serving as chairman, and one member each from the Council on Dental Benefit Programs, Council on Dental Practice and Council on Access, Prevention and Interpersonal Relations, and be it further Resolved, that the task force report its findings to the BOT. Chaired by Dr.Gary Armitage (CSA Chairman), the task force met on September 3, 1999. During the meeting, the members of the task force acknowledged that many dentists are apprehensive about the concept of EBD, because it is often viewed as being formula based (cookbook) and potentially restrictive. As such, the task force strongly felt that the Association should clearly define the concept of EBD, ensuring that both researchand practice-related elements are appropriately considered. In so doing, the following recommendations were made to the BOT: 1. That the Association survey dentists, dental schools and dental students to investigate priority clinical issues to be addressed by EBD research, and that this information be used to further develop the Association’s Research Agenda and, through partnerships with agencies conducting EBD research, to ensure EBD research remains clinically relevant. 2. That the Association report to its members the latest EBD reviews conducted by extramural research agencies in ways that will be useful to them in clinical practice and that the Association use, and the ADA Publishing Company (ADAPCO) be urged to use, existing media (e’g. JADA, ADA.org, CE courses, annual sessions, etc.) to communicate the latest developments in EBD to dental practitioners and students. 3. That the Association explore the feasibility of the Association serving as a clearinghouse for information on EBD. 4. That the Association study the advisability of urging dental schools to include the concept of EBD and EBD research in school curricula. 5. That the appropriate agencies of the Association place on their 2000 agendas the issue of EBD as it relates to their respective areas of responsibility; and that the Council on Scientific Affairs convene a meeting of two members from each of these agencies to be held in Chicago in the summer of 2000 to share information on EBD and develop further recommendations for Association action to submit to the BOT. At its December 1999 meeting, the BOT reviewed the report of the Task Force on EBD and adopted the following resolution: Resolved, that the Association adopt the following working definition of EBD: