The efficiency, inter-rater reliability and validity of a mobile application to aid periodontal classification.

Introduction: Periodontitis is the sixth most common disease worldwide, with almost half of the UK adult population having a degree of irreversible periodontitis. Forming an accurate diagnosis is paramount in making decisions regarding treatment planning. The aim of this study was to assess the inter-rater reliability, validity and efficiency of a smartphone application to aid in forming a periodontitis diagnosis compared with conventional methods. Methods: Twenty-five Dental Core Trainees (DCTs) were randomly allocated into two groups. All dentists were asked to diagnose 10 periodontal cases and time taken to complete was measured. In addition, participants recorded their confidence in forming a periodontal diagnosis. The experimental group undertook the exercise with the aid of a smartphone application to aid in forming a diagnosis. The control group used a diagnostic flow diagram published by the British Society of Periodontology. Results: The mean of correct responses was 90% in the app group and 85% in the control group. The time to complete was 15.5 minutes in the app group and 20 minutes in the control group. These findings were statistically significant. Inter-rater reliability for both groups was comparably high. Conclusion: The use of the mobile application increased the accuracy and efficiency in forming a periodontal diagnosis compared to traditional diagnostic aids.