Investigating the Reliability and Reproducibility of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System Index in Evaluation of Dental Decay in 25- to 40-Year-Old People and Comparing it with the Decayed, Missing, Filled Index

Background The Decayed, Missing, Filled (DMF) index is one of the most common techniques for investigating dental decay. In recent years, the new International Caries Detection and Assessment System  (ICDAS) technique has been introduced to the world as a standard tool to confront the present challenges in diagnosing dental decay. The present study aimed to investigate the reliability and reproducibility of the ICDAS index and to compare it with the DMF index. Materials and Methods In this cross-sectional study, 30 employees of one of the hospitals in Shiraz, Iran, were selected using the convenience sampling method. They were examined by two examiners calibrated for DMF and two examiners calibrated for ICDAS. The agreement between the two examiners was investigated using the kappa coefficient. One of the DMF examiners and one of the ICDAS examiners examined each sample two weeks later. The internal agreement of these examiners with their first examinations was evaluated using the kappa coefficient. Results  For the ICDAS index, the intra-examiner kappa coefficient and the inter-examiner kappa coefficient were equal to 0.915 and 0.874, respectively, and for the DMF index, these indices were equal to 0.903 and 0.833, respectively. These findings show a complete agreement in both indices between the examiners. The agreement in the ICDAS index was more than the DMF index. Conclusions According to the examinations conducted in the present study, both indices have a suitable level of reliability and reproducibility. Therefore, the ICDAS index is also useful for dentists and dental students for diagnosing dental decay.