Many JADA readers have commented on the sometimes complicated statistical analyses used in some of our research articles. It is unrealistic to expect all readers to comprehend every difficult statistical calculation-I certainly don't-yet these analyses are necessary to validate and demonstrate the importance of a study. There are certain statistical analyses that all of us should strive to understand. As oral health care providers, we are always looking for the best treatment modalities for our patients. Recent great strides in bio-medical technology have made vaccines against periodontal diseases and caries, salivary tests for oral and other types of cancers, and many other treatments and screening modalities imminent realities. While many new technological advances sound wonderful, we need to appreciate their advantages and disadvantages before implementing changes in patient care. And we need to ask ourselves whether we always understand what we are being told by well-meaning sales representatives. Are we truly able to evaluate claims of benefit and superiority? In seeking answers to such questions, it may help to review a couple of examples.
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