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Dental Hygiene (DENH)

Resources for Dental Hygiene Research

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

These articles are original research on an experiment and they are usually found using these databases: Dentistry and Oral Science Source (EBSCO), PubMed, and PubMed Central.

Types of articles: Evidence - Based

  • Studies: cohort, case control, clinical trials and randomized controlled trial (RCT), clinical trial

Format of article:

  • a structured article with the following pieces: abstract/introduction, methodology/materials/methods, results, conclusion/discussion. reference

Resources to use: Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (EBSCO), PubMed, and PubMed Central. 

Tips for finding primary sources in Dentistry and Oral Sciences Science, PubMed Central,  and EBSCO Discovery Service.

  • In the search box add the word trial or study to your topic.

Example: toothbrush study

Example: toothbrush trial

Tips for finding primary sources in PubMed

  • Select: Clinical Trial and Randomized Controlled Trial

These sources are usually summaries or reviews of articles on a specific topic. These sources are found using PubMed, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (EBSCO), PubMed Central, Cochrane Library and online magazines, books, and oral health websites.

Types of articles:

  • Evidence-Based Secondary Sources

Literature Review

Review, Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis

Clinical Analysis or Clinical Guidelines  

  • Not Evidence – Based

General article from a magazine or journal

Information from books

Information from recommended or reliable web sites: organization, health facility, corporation

Pamphlet, newsletter or fact sheet

Format for Evidence-Based Sources

Abstract/Introduction, Methods/Methodology, Results, Conclusion/Discussion, References

Resources to use to find Evidence-Based Secondary Sources: PubMed, PubMed Central, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (EBSCO), ADA Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry

Sources that are not Evidence-Based 

There is not a standard format.

Resources to use to find secondary sources that are not Evidence-Based: Websites for organizations, health facility, corporation: PubMed Central, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (EBSCO), and online journals.