Effect of different time intervals between examinations on the reproducibility of ICDAS-II for occlusal caries

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate intra- and interexaminer reproducibility of ICDAS-II on occlusal caries diagnosis when different time intervals were allowed to elapse between examinations. A subsidiary aim was to determine whether collapsing the codes would influence this reproducibility.

METHODS: The occlusal surfaces of 50 permanent posterior teeth were investigated by 3 trained examiners using ICDAS-II at baseline, 1 day, 1 week and 4 weeks after baseline.

RESULTS: Weighted kappa values for intra- and interexaminer reproducibility were 0.76-0.93.

CONCLUSION: The time span did not have a major impact on assessing intra- and interexaminer reproducibility. Collapsing ICDAS-II codes had no impact on examiner reproducibility.