Dental Core Outcomes

Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials: https://www.comet-initiative.org/

Core outcomes in clinical research refer to a standardized minimum set of outcomes that should be consistently measured and reported in all clinical trials for a specific health condition or intervention. These core outcome sets (COS) are developed through a rigorous consensus process involving diverse stakeholders such as patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers to ensure the outcomes are relevant and meaningful to all parties involved1235.

Key characteristics of core outcomes include:

• Minimum essential outcomes: COS represent the smallest set of outcomes that must be measured and reported to allow comparability across studies.

• Standardization: They include both the domains (what to measure) and the instruments or methods (how to measure) to ensure consistency.

• Consensus-based: Developed through systematic reviews, qualitative research, and consensus techniques like Delphi surveys and nominal group discussions.

• Stakeholder involvement: Patients and healthcare providers are actively involved to capture outcomes that matter most to them.

• Facilitate evidence synthesis: By harmonizing outcomes, COS reduce research waste, improve meta-analyses, and enhance the reliability of evidence for decision-making.

• Flexibility: While COS define the minimum outcomes, researchers can measure additional outcomes relevant to their specific study question.

For instance, in Dentistry > Endodontics, an international consensus study (COSET) identified core outcomes for endodontic treatment trials including:

• Pain

• Signs of infection (swelling, sinus tract)

• Need for further intervention or exacerbation

• Tenderness to percussion/palpation

• Radiographic evidence of disease progression or healing

• Function

• Tooth survival

• Patient satisfaction

Examples

Outcomes in a Dental Clinical Trial: 

Maldupa, I., Innes, N., Viduskalne, I. et al. Clinical effectiveness/child-patient and parent satisfaction of two topical fluoride treatments for caries: a randomised clinical trial. Sci Rep 14, 8123 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58850-w

CORE Outcomes in Dentistry

1. PMID: 40495112

Aesthetics and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry: Consensus Report.

Tonetti M, Sanz M, Cairo F, Nart J, Chapple I, Aimetti M, Aroca S, Avila-Ortiz G, Blanco J, Bujaldón A, Cavalcanti R, Cortellini P, Cosyn J, Danser M, de Sanctis M, Derks J, Dommisch H, Figuero E, Gianserra R, Graziani F, Jepsen S, Kebschull M, Lambert F, Montero E, Naenni N, Needleman I, Pilloni A, Ramanauskaite A, Roccuzzo M, Sanz-Martín I, Sanz-Sánchez I, Schwarz F, Sculean A, Stefanini M, Thoma D, Trombelli L, Valles C, West N, Zucchelli G, Zuhr O, Herrera D.

J Clin Periodontol. 2025 Jun 10. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.14182. Online ahead of print.

PMID: 40495112

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2. PMID: 40087021

HOW TO REPORT OUTCOMES IN CLINICAL DENTAL RESEARCH.

Qin D, Guo F, Hua F.

J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2025 Mar;25(1S):102053. doi: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2024.102053. Epub 2024 Nov 15.

PMID: 40087021

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3. PMID: 40087020

THE USE OF DENTAL PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES (dPROs) IN PREDICTION MODELING STUDIES IN ORAL HEALTH: A METHODOLOGICAL REVIEW.

Su N, VAN DER Linden M, Faggion CM Jr, VAN DER Aa N.

J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2025 Mar;25(1S):102057. doi: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2024.102057. Epub 2024 Nov 26.

PMID: 40087020

4. PMID: 40087018

DENTAL PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES UPDATE 2024.

Hua F.

J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2025 Mar;25(1S):102122. doi: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2025.102122. Epub 2025 Feb 7.

PMID: 40087018

5. PMID: 39182639

Core outcomes measures in dental computer vision studies (DentalCOMS).

Büttner M, Rokhshad R, Brinz J, Issa J, Chaurasia A, Uribe SE, Karteva T, Chala S, Tichy A, Schwendicke F.

J Dent. 2024 Nov;150:105318. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.105318. Epub 2024 Aug 27.

PMID: 39182639

6. PMID: 36914302

DENTAL PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES IN ENDODONTICS - A NARRATIVE REVIEW.

Nagendrababu V, Vinothkumar TS, El-Karim I, Rossi-Fedele G, Doğramaci EJ, Dummer PMH, Duncan HF.

J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2023 Mar;23(1):101805. doi: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2022.101805. Epub 2022 Nov 15.

PMID: 36914302

7. PMID: 36484660

Clinical Outcomes of Metal-Ceramic versus Metal-Acrylic Resin Implant-Supported Fixed Complete Dental Prostheses: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Estrin N, Nam K, Romanos GE, Saragossi J, Iacono VJ, Bassir SH.

Int J Prosthodont. 2023 May-June;36(3):354–365. doi: 10.11607/ijp.7592. Epub 2022 Dec 6.

PMID: 36484660

8. PMID: 38572886

Synthesis of temporomandibular disorders management intervention outcomes for development of core outcome sets: A systematic review.

Ferreira NR, Marto CM, de Sousa BM, Loureiro M, Oliveira AT, DosSantos MF, Rodrigues MJ.

J Oral Rehabil. 2024 Jul;51(7):1303-1319. doi: 10.1111/joor.13692. Epub 2024 Apr 4.

PMID: 38572886

9. PMID: 38314586

An international consensus study to identify "what" outcomes should be included in a core outcome set for endodontic treatments (COSET) for utilization in clinical practice and research.

El Karim I, Duncan HF, Cushley S, Nagendrababu V, Kirkevang LL, Kruse CL, Chong BS, Shah PK, Lappin M, Lundy FT, Clarke M; Consensus workshop participants.

Int Endod J. 2024 Mar;57(3):270-280. doi: 10.1111/iej.14008. Epub 2023 Dec 27.

PMID: 38314586

10. PMID: 37279564

Core outcomes for orofacial clefts: reconciling traditional and ICHOM minimum datasets.

Mossey PA, Lai J, Meazzini MC, Breugem C, Mark H, Mink van der Molen AB, Persson M, Davies G, Ozawa TO.

Eur J Orthod. 2023 Nov 30;45(6):671-679. doi: 10.1093/ejo/cjad023.

PMID: 37279564

11. PMID: 37143297

Involving people with lived experience in developing a core outcome set for implant dentistry research. The Implant Dentistry-Core Outcomes Sets and Measures (ID-COSM) project.

Needleman I, Sanz M, Carrillo de Albornoz A, Safii S, Hassan NHM, Qian S, Tonetti M.

J Clin Periodontol. 2023 May;50 Suppl 25:96-106. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.13812. Epub 2023 May 4.

PMID: 37143297

12. PMID: 36308444

The importance of establishing a core outcome set for endodontic clinical trials and outcomes studies.

El-Karim I, Duncan HF, Nagendrababu V, Clarke M.

Int Endod J. 2023 Mar;56 Suppl 2:200-206. doi: 10.1111/iej.13862. Epub 2022 Nov 11.

PMID: 36308444

13. PMID: 35063173

CORE OUTCOME SETS AND DENTAL PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOMES.

Lamont TJ, Clarkson JE.

J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2022 Jan;22(1S):101659. doi: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2021.101659. Epub 2021 Nov 5.

PMID: 35063173

14. PMID: 28931440

Core outcomes in periodontal trials: study protocol for core outcome set development.

Lamont TJ, Clarkson JE, Ricketts DNJ, Heasman PA, Ramsay CR.

Trials. 2017 Sep 20;18(1):436. doi: 10.1186/s13063-017-2169-z.

PMID: 28931440

15. PMID: 28873277

What are the important outcomes in traumatic dental injuries? An international approach to the development of a core outcome set.

Kenny KP, Day PF, Sharif MO, Parashos P, Lauridsen E, Feldens CA, Cohenca N, Skapetis T, Levin L, Kenny DJ, Djemal S, Malmgren O, Chen YJ, Tsukisboshi M, Andersson L.

Dent Traumatol. 2018 Feb;34(1):4-11. doi: 10.1111/edt.12367. Epub 2017 Nov 16.

PMID: 28873277

16. PMID: 26492796

Why we need a core outcome set for trials of interventions for prevention and management of caries.

Lamont T, Schwendicke F, Innes N.

Evid Based Dent. 2015 Sep;16(3):66-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.ebd.6401109.

PMID: 26492796

17. PMID: 29096680

Outcomes in randomised controlled trials in prevention and management of carious lesions: a systematic review.

Levey C, Innes N, Schwendicke F, Lamont T, Göstemeyer G.

Trials. 2017 Nov 2;18(1):515. doi: 10.1186/s13063-017-2256-1.

PMID: 29096680