This review explores the nature of numbers in dental research, their importance and, at a basic level, how these are handled. This includes the important numbers that practitioners should look at when appraising research and discussion of some commonly found statistical terms.
Clinical relevance: In order to apply evidence-based dentistry in clinical practice, dentists should have an understanding of the basic numbers reported in dental research, and an appreciation of this should allow them to identify which papers are most valuable to inform their clinical practice.