Intra-examiner and Inter-examiner Reproducibility in Irregularity Index Measurements
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Original Article
P: 160-164
September 2019

Intra-examiner and Inter-examiner Reproducibility in Irregularity Index Measurements

Turk J Orthod 2019;32(3):160-164
1. Private Practice, İzmir, Turkey
2. Department of Orthodontics, İzmir Katip Çelebi University School of Dentistry, Ankara, Turkey
3. Private Practice, Konya, Turkey
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 02.10.2018
Accepted Date: 27.12.2018
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ABSTRACT

Objective:

This study aimed to assess intra-examiner and inter-examiner reproducibility in irregularity index measurements.

Methods:

Twenty plaster casts of moderately crowded arches were randomly selected, and five contact point displacements (CPD) at lower anterior segment (through no. 33 to no. 43) were recorded using digital calipers on two different time points by three examiners to determine irregularity index (sum of five CPDs). To evaluate intra-examiner and inter-examiner differences, paired t-test and analysis of variance were used, respectively. Correlation analyses were performed between examiner pairs, and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were determined. Statistical significance was set at p≤0.05.

Results:

Only a few of the repeated measurements of examiners showed significant differences (p≤0.05). All researchers were consistent in repeated measurements (p=0.000), and ICCs ranged between 0.916 and 0.986. For one CPD measurement, a statistically significant difference was detected among examiners (p=0.020). High correlation was found for inter-examiner repeatability (p<0.05), and ICCs ranged between 0.739 and 0.984. But when the difference of 1.5 mm among measurements was set as clinically relevant, the percentages of these values for repeated measures were 15%, 5%, and 45% for examiner 1, 2, and 3, respectively. These percentages were 25%, 80%, and 65% for examiner pairs.

Conclusion:

Irregularity index may be a misleading index to determine anterior alignment especially when measuring small CPD.

Keywords:
Irregularity index, reproducibility, tooth crowding, dental model