ArticleCommunity dentistry and oral epidemiology2025
Specifying a target trial protocol to estimate the effect of preconception treatment of periodontitis on time-to-pregnancy: A commentary and applied example.
Article in Community dentistry and oral epidemiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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7 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundThe target trial framework was developed as a strategy to design and analyze observational epidemiologic studies with the aim of reducing bias due to analytic decisions. It involves designing a hypothetical randomized trial to answer a question of interest and systematically considering how to use observational data to emulate each trial component.
aimsThe primary aim of this paper is to provide a detailed example of the application of the target trial framework to a research question in oral epidemiology. MATERIALS AND
methodsWe describe the development of a hypothetical target trial and emulation protocol to evaluate the effect of preconception periodontitis treatment on time-to-pregnancy. We leverage data from Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a preconception cohort, to ground our example in existing observational data. We discuss the decision-making process for each trial component, as well as limitations encountered.
resultsOur target trial application revealed data limitations that precluded us from carrying out the proposed emulation. Implications for data quality are discussed and we provide recommendations for researchers interested in conducting trial emulations in the field of oral epidemiology. DISCUSSION: The target trial framework has the potential to improve the validity of observational research in oral health, when properly applied.
conclusionWe encourage the broad adoption of the target trial framework to the field of observational oral health research and demonstrate its value as a tool to identify directions for future research.
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