Kids’ Teeth: A 25‑Year Journey From Guesswork to Science

Pediatric dentistry used to rely on what experts thought best, often copying adult techniques. In the last 25 years it has become a science that uses solid evidence tailored for children. This shift shows how evidence‑based dentistry (EBD) blends research, professional skill and what kids and families value. The Journal of Evidence‑Based Dental Practice marks its 25th year by highlighting key moments that turned practice into research and back again. Three examples illustrate this: the Hall Technique, Atraumatic Restorative Treatment, and handling pulp canal obliteration after dental trauma.The authors propose a roadmap to make research more useful: start with questions that matter, use strong methods, listen to patients and families, plan how results will be used, measure outcomes that count for people, share findings publicly, and practice open science. Even small, local studies can change how children are treated, cut down on unequal care and add real worth. The message is clear: by turning everyday dental work into research questions, then applying those answers back to practice, pediatric dentistry has grown from an art of guesswork into a proven science that keeps kids’ smiles healthy and fair.