Updates from IADR international conference
Drs Tufecki, Brickhouse and Best met with 2500 of our closest colleagues at the IADR conference in Cape Town, South Africa the last week of June. Al’s favorite session was an interactive exchange with the Cochrane meta-analysis folks. Small groups did blind reviews of three dental products/procedures and were asked to rate the level of evidence available from the meta-analyses of multiple clinical trials. Then we were told that the three products—flossing, tooth paste with Triclosan, and electric tooth brushing—had all received official guideline designations that were different than what the evidence indicated. What is the point of evidence-based dental research if it’s not used? How can we researchers make our findings more useful, usable, and used?
Eser reports a controversy among the “clinician-orthodontists” and “basic science researcher orthodontists.” The IADR now requires each member to join a scientific group. But the craniofacial biology group covers only some of the orthodontic field (the biology part). So, the heated discussion among the attendants was whether to change the name to “craniofacial biology and orthodontics” or not. It is kind of disturbing that there is no orthodontic group such as periodontology, prosthodontics etc.
We also took time off after the meeting to do some touristing. Did you know that hippos can’t swim? Elephants can get 6 sets of teeth. Next year the AADR/IADR location is not nearly as exotic. It’s March 11-14 in Boston. Even so, you should go.
Dr Al Best, Director of Faculty Research Development
Director of Faculty Research Development
Cape Point is where the currents of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean’s meet and whew knew that the South African “jackass” penguins sound like a donkey.. I got to meet with Pediatric Oral Health Researchers from all over Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Iran, and the UK. We Discussed evidence-base strategies for Risk assessment for 0 to 5 yr olds, learned New trends on Evidence-Based Diagnostics for early ECC, specifically ICDAS pre-cavitated Lesions, in addition to Discussing new Innovation Strategies for ECC Prevention and focusing on the Age One Visit.
Dr Teg Brickhouse
Chair & Associate Professor Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Categories Research