ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION As with any worthwhile endeavor, embarking on the study of an issue related to dentistry can have considerable resource implications in terms of both time and money. Dedicated time will need to be put aside by the dentist, in terms of learning about research techniques that may be unfamiliar. In addition, time might need to be committed to meeting with other dentists and non-clinical experts about the study design, collaboration with colleagues in the data collection, guidance in the data analysis, and dissemination of the results. There is a cost involved in terms of the income that the dentist might otherwise have generated by treating patients (Kay, Ward, and Locker 2003). For a larger study additional clerical staff might need to be employed to deal with, for instance, the paperwork, telephone calls, and data input generated by the study. Are research studies really necessary?
