Evidence-Based Dentistry: Quantification of Margins and Uncertainty

RM 211

Decision-making in any patient-provider relationship makes use of best estimates of intervention outcomes regarding service options when developing personal oral healthcare plans. These best estimates, however, may be derived from a context of less than quality evidence, or evidence that lacks accuracy subsequent to assessment. Thus, clinicians and their patients require a scale from which best estimates of current knowledge may be judged in relationship to true values. The purpose of this study is to quantify the margins of best estimates of a subject of interest and their uncertainties. Using evidence-based research methodology and manufacturer specifications allow for best estimates of upper and lower (failure) performance requirement margins of a subject of interest to be quantified along with error metrics. As well, evidencebased research quantifies clinician’s critical values, the value at which a clinician determines clinical failure of a subject of interest. The results set forth theory and metrics of how clinicians may compare best estimates of a subject of interest from published studies and systematic reviews. With quantification of margins and uncertainties, clinicians may rank on a linear scale best estimates in relationship to best estimate of true value (upper performance requirement), critical value, and a lower performance requirement. With quantification of margins and uncertainties, clinician will be better prepared to judge published best estimates of intervention outcomes of a subject of interest against true values and other best estimates of performance reducing publication bias of less than quality evidence.