Restoration of primary teeth: clinical criteria for assessment of the literature.

AIM: This is was to establish a system of clinically based criteria for the assessment of papers published in peer reviewed journals concerning the use of restorative techniques in primary teeth.
BACKGROUND: Various publications that consider the approaches to be taken to setting up assessment criteria with the dental/medical literature were reviewed. These included the so called 'Cochrane criteria'. On the basis of this review a set of clinically based criteria were drawn up that were then used to produce a list of criteria to be used in a series of systematic reviews of the literature concerning the various restorative techniques, materials and medicaments for pulp therapy and the restoration of primary teeth.
RESULTS: There were 23 criteria that were felt to be appropriate. The list of 23 criteria were deemed to be appropriate for pulp therapy and 21 for restorative techniques and materials. Conclusion.A set of clinically based criteria is suggested for the systematic review of publications on restorative techniques for primary teeth.