Learning objectives

    •Explain the difference between causality and correlation or association
    •Describe the features of Newcastle-Ottawa scale

Some patients who receive dental implants may experience excessive bone loss, peri-implant bleeding and possibly suppuration and final loss of the implant, in spite of excellent diagnosis, delivery of therapy and adequate recall maintenance. Your patient is concerned that he/she are amongst these, and arrives to you prepared with questions about possible risks.

Which study design would provide best evidence for relating a possible cause to an adverse clinical outcome – e.g. tobacco smoking and implant bone loss?

Which study design do you think provide best evidence for relating a possible cause to an adverse clinical outcome – e.g. tobacco smoking and implant bone loss?