Randomised controlled trial 1 article

A randomised controlled trial assigns participants to intervention groups by a random process and compares outcomes prospectively between those groups. Dental trials may evaluate preventive measures, materials, procedures, medicines or care pathways, with allocation concealment, blinding where feasible and intention-to-treat analysis used to limit bias. Randomisation is the defining feature because it helps balance known and unknown prognostic factors. The design tests effects of interventions rather than simply observing naturally occurring exposure groups.