Evidence-based practice and barriers to compliance: Face bow transfer

Abstract

Purpose: To recapitulate a 2003 study inquiring of US dental schools whether they teach the face bow transfer by means of a survey in order to determine if compliance with clinical evidence has improved. Methods: The same 54 dental schools surveyed in 2003 were asked the same question regarding whether they teach the use of the face bow transfer in the complete denture curriculum. Results: Teaching of the face bow transfer has increased in prevalence from 84% of surveyed schools in 2003 to 93.75% of surveyed schools in 2015. Conclusions: This finding is especially interesting in light of the fact that there is no compelling evidence supporting the use of the face bow transfer with regard to improving patient outcomes. With respect to the continued unjustified teaching of the face bow transfer, some possible reasons for non-compliance with best available evidence are presented using the medical literature for reference.