Randomized Controlled Trials in Evidence-Based Dentistry

This book reviews the role of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in clinical dentistry, explains how to successfully conduct RCTs related to dentistry, and provides detailed information on the use of RCTs within each of the dental specialties. Although RCTs represent the gold standard in evidence-based dentistry for evaluation of the effects of an intervention, a textbook on the subject has to date been lacking. Randomized Controlled Trials in Evidence-Based Dentistry will fill this educational gap and improve the confidence of dental providers, researchers, and their multidisciplinary teams in conducting high-quality RCTs in a variety of settings and different parts of the world. In particular, it will enable readers to implement a suitable step-by-step approach to RCTs, identify possible solutions to common challenges when performing RCTs in individual dental specialties, and apply these solutions to their own RCT projects.

Richie Kohli, BDS, MS, is an Associate Professor in the Division of Dental Public Health, at Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry, Portland, OR, USA. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Surgery from the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in India and a Master of Science in Dental Public Health from the University of Iowa, USA. Dr. Kohli is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health and is a recognized international expert in the field of dental public health. Dr. Kohli has 18 years of clinical, research, and administrative experience. She is widely known for her research in education, clinical research, and community-based research. With her innovative research, she has meaningfully contributed to improving access to quality dental care for historically underserved populations and to improving training for dentists, particularly relating to addressing the opioid epidemic and racial equity in dentistry. Dr. Kohli has received millions of dollars to conduct her research and has published and reviewed articles in leading peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Kohli lectures nationally and internationally. She has held leadership positions at the International Association for Dental Research and the American Association of Public Health Dentistry.

Harjit Singh Sehgal, BDS, MS, FAGE, is an Associate Professor and Co-director of Predoctoral Periodontics in the Division of Periodontology at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry, Portland, Oregon, USA. Dr. Sehgal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Surgery from the Manipal University and a Certificate in Periodontics and a Master of Science degree in Dentistry from the University of Minnesota. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and serves as a board examiner as well. Dr. Sehgal is a passionate educator, clinician and a scientist and has over 20 years of clinical and research experience. He directs many periodontology courses and teaches both pre-doctoral and post-doctoral students. Some of his current research is focused on clinical investigations of CBCT accuracy, electronic health records, dental quality measures, and opioid prescribing behaviors. Dr. Sehgal also maintains a cutting-edge dental practice limited to periodontics and implant dentistry in the OHSU Faculty Dental Practice. Dr. Sehgal has been the recipient of Educator Awards by the American Academy of Periodontology and the Western Society of Periodontology for excellence in teaching and mentoring in Periodontics. He currently serves as the President-elect of the Western Society of Periodontology.

Peter Milgrom, DDS is Emeritus Professor of Oral Health Sciences. He has been recognized throughout the world as a clinical scholar and innovator in a career spanning nearly 50 years. Among numerous awards, he received the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Bergen, Norway, the Norton Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research by the American Dental Association, and the Distinguished Dental Behavioral Scientist and Irwin M. Mandel Distinguished Mentor Awards of the International Association for Dental Research. Professor Milgrom is best known today for having created the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program in Washington State and introducing fluoride varnish and silver diamine fluoride in the United States. He is best known clinically for having co-created the Dental Fears Research Clinic at UW. Having published more than 325 research papers and books, Dr. Milgrom has received millions of dollars in research grants. Dr. Milgrom has consulted with government, non-profits, and industry throughout his career.