An Idea for the Future of Dental Research: A Cloud-based Clinical Network and Database

Abstract

Evidence-based dentistry (EBD) is an approach to oral healthcare requiring systematic assessment of relevant scientific evidence to clinical practice and patients’ needs. EBD attempts to globally establish personalized dental care based upon the most recent and highest order scientific evidence. However, some times the EBD does not consider local clinical circumstances, which represents a practitioner’s actual patient population and experiences.

The purpose of this study is to outline a design for a cloud-based clinical network/database model that is believed to be a valuable addition to the current clinical research models. This paper provides a rationale for the establishment of a network and makes recommendations as to how this format would bridge EBD and clinical practice. To do so would provide a significant advance for dental education, clinical research, and clinical practice.