Evaluation Process

A Clinical Evaluation is a concise, objective, accurate, evidence-based article on how a dental product or piece of equipment performs in a general dentistry practice.

The Clinical Evaluation begins with the development of a custom survey by a member of our staff. Then, the product and survey are sent to a randomly selected group of 20 to 30 of our 250 Clinical Consultants. The Clinical Consultant and their staff integrate the product into their daily routine, use the product regularly over a given period of time and then complete the survey.

Once the surveys are completed (we have a 95% survey return rate!), the data are compiled and an editor drafts an article for publication. The article is brought before our Editorial Staff at our weekly Editorial Meetings, where the product, plus rating, and clinical percentage rating are discussed and debated. This effort culminates into the final published article, plus rating, and clinical percentage rating.

The Clinical Evaluation article is then presented to the manufacturer for verification of all product specifications, solely for purposes of accuracy. This unique step keeps the product manufacturer involved in the process, creating a team effort in providing the reader with the best in dental products and materials.

Our + Rating is based on a scale of 1 to 5:
+ + + + + = Excellent (96% - 100%)
+ + + + = Very Good (86% - 95%)
+ + + = Good (76% - 85%)
+ + = Fair (66% - 75%)
+ = Poor (56% - 65%)

Our commitment to improving patient care continues after the publication of the evaluation, as we work directly with the product manufacturers, opening a dialogue of thoughts, ideas and solutions to provide the dental community and their patients with the best the profession can offer.