Abstract

ARAUJO, Joyce Figueira de; VALOIS, Érica Martins  and  CRUZ, Maria Carmen Fontoura Nogueira da. Split-mouth and parallel epidemiological studies designs: a literature review. Rev. Bras. Odontol. [online]. 2016, vol.73, n.1, pp. 60-63. ISSN 1984-3747.

The split-mouth trials are widely used in dental research. This epidemiological study design has been preferred, mainly because it greatly reduces the inter-individual variability, very present in parallel clinical trials and that could negatively interfere in the treatment effects. However, it is necessary that both clinical researches and staticians clearly know all the features of split-mouth trials, include its advantages, disadvantages, considerations on the most appropriate statistical analysis and its clinical implications for their use to be made so correct.

Keywords : randomized controlled trial; epidemiologic studies; methodology; split-mouth design; parallel-trial; oral health research..