Pilot Study of Rapid Caries Treatment Needs Screening – A Brief Communication

Abstract

To evaluate a newly developed screening method for caries-related treatment needs. The Rapid Caries Treatment Needs Screening (RCTNS) Index includes five ordinal nominal scores. Comparisons with conventional examinations were conducted among 565 young Israeli adults (aged 23 +/- 5.3 years) by the same dentist. According to conventional examination, 79.5 percent demonstrated caries-related treatment needs as compared to 54.9 percent according to RCTNS. The sensitivity of RCTNS was 68.1 percent; specificity was 96.5 percent; positive predictive value was 98.7 percent; and negative predictive value was 43.9 percent. The calculated percentage of explained variance (R2) Of the conventional examination results according to RCTNS was 55.6 percent. The data reveal the relevance of a rapid visual screening method for caries-related treatment needs. This is a pilot study that demands further methodological refinement. Preliminary results revealed a potential, which should be further investigated.