A practical approach to evidence-based dentistry: VII: How to use patient management recommendations from clinical practice guidelines.

BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW

Clinical practice guidelines represent highly processed evidence with associated recommendations to inform clinical practice and optimize patient care. Appropriately developed, evidence-based recommendations will integrate the best evidence regarding benefits and harms, the certainty of the evidence, patients' values and preferences, and resource utilization.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The authors provide a structure for clinicians to critically appraise clinical practice guidelines to determine whether the guidelines offer trustworthy recommendations.