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Journal of Dental Research
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Clinical

Introduction to Cumulative Meta-analysis in Dentistry: Lessons Learned from Undertaking a Cumulative Meta-analysis in Periodontology

D.R. Moles1,*, I.G. Needleman1, R. Niederman2 and J. Lau3

1 Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Science, University College London, 256 Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD, UK;
2 dsm-Forsyth Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry, The Forsyth Institute, Boston, MA, USA, and Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; and
3 Center for Clinical Evidence Synthesis, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA;

Correspondence: * corresponding author, d.moles{at}eastman.ucl.ac.uk

Improving health and well-being from the consideration of isolated studies is problematic. Systematic reviews have been developed to address this problem and may include a quantitative data synthesis in the form of a meta-analysis, or a cumulative meta-analysis. The value of systematic reviews depends greatly on the availability and quality of the results of primary research. The objective of the current project was to demonstrate the technique of cumulative meta-analysis in dentistry using data from a previously published systematic review. The process highlights an issue that some trials could not be synthesized due to the lack of reporting of measures of variation. This represents a potential source of bias. Investigators are encouraged to consider their trials as part of an information continuum and to report sufficient detail to permit the trials’ incorporation into subsequent syntheses.

Key Words: systematic review • clinical trials • periodontal diseases • meta-analysis

Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 84, No. 4, 345-349 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/154405910508400410
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Related articles in Journal of Dental Research:

To the Editor: Caveat for a Cumulative Meta-analysis
Sok-Ja Janket, David R Moles, Joseph Lau, Ian Needleman, and Richard Niederman
Journal of Dental Research 2005 84: 487. [Full Text]