ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION When a new treatment for a particular dental problem is discovered, it is necessary to compare the effects of the treatment with those of the treatment in current use, using patients who have that problem. In clinical trials the treatments are allocated to the patients. Since the effectiveness of a new treatment can only be assessed properly within the context of treatments currently available, patients are allocated to either a “new treatment” (intervention) group or a control group where the established treatment is given (if one exists). As an example, some dentists believe that young children may take in harmful levels of fl uoride by swallowing their toothpaste and decide to investigate a low-fl uoride variety. However, there might be unresolved concern that low-fl uoride toothpaste is less effective in preventing tooth decay. It might then be appropriate to compare the effectiveness of a lowfl uoride variety of children’s toothpaste with a standard fl uoride type in terms of change in primary teeth decay score dmft over a predetermined length of time. If the treatment proposed has no medically effective alternative, a placebo treatment, which has no biological
Key Message 5.1: Placebo Effect
It is well known that some patients improve when given a placebo. This is known as the placebo effect. It is a psychological response to the knowledge that treatment is being received. For the new treatment, an effect must be demonstrated over and above the placebo effect.
