Background: Although productive, traditional research approaches may not always address clinically relevant outcomes or translate into changes that can be made in practice. Conversely, clinical observations often result in therapeutic innovations but require verification of safety before widespread use.
Overview: As a strategy for greater integration of research findings and clinical practice, the authors suggest approaches for clinicians to document clinical observations through best case series as a basis for more controlled clinical trials. The aim is to engage clinicians in the process of therapeutic innovation through clinical research.
Conclusions and practice implications: This approach represents a necessary first step for practitioners to formulate hypotheses for further testing, to identify clinically relevant outcome measures and to contribute to the evidence base for clinical practices in dentistry.