BDJ | 2019
The role of the randomised controlled trial in restorative dentistry and the correct purpose of observational data
Abstract
It has been argued that the randomised controlled trial design is unsuitable for restorative dentistry and that cohort studies or the analysis of large observational datasets without randomisation is more suitable. This opinion article examines why randomisation in clinical trials is needed and why big observational data is not enough for clinical inference.