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Dental Hygiene (DENH)

Resources for Dental Hygiene Research

Tips to find a primary source article on dental sealants

The best database for this assignment is Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source.

The best search terms to use to find a primary source article are:

pit and fissure sealants and study

Also, mark full text.

Date range would be the last 5 years.

You can also use EBSCO Discovery Service if you cannot find an article in Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source.

To find a primary source, add STUDY to the search terms or TRIAL to search terms.

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.