Use of the international caries detection and assessment system two-digit coding method by predoctoral dental students at Philipps University of Marburg, Germany.

When the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS-II) was introduced, a two-number coding system that identifies restorations/sealants with the first digit and scores the caries lesions with a second digit was suggested. The aim of this study was, first, to assess the intra- and interexaminer reproducibility of this method applied by predoctoral dental students and, second, to evaluate the influence of an additional theoretical training session on the reproducibility values. Twenty-four third-year dental students at Philipps University of Marburg, Germany, were trained in a theoretical session by an experienced examiner. The students were randomly divided into two groups to examine extracted teeth. The assessments were repeated after three weeks. Prior to the second examinations, one group received an additional theoretical training session. For the restoration code, mean kappa values for intra- and interexaminer reproducibility were between 0.28 and 0.82. For the caries code, mean kappa values for intra- and interexaminer reproducibility were between 0.34 and 0.72. The mean kappa values of the two groups did not differ significantly, either on the first digit or on the caries code (p>0.05).

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes