Swedish quality registry for caries and periodontal diseases (SKaPa): validation of data on dental caries in 6- and 12-year-old children

Tita Mensah,Gunilla Klingberg,Sofia Tranæus,Andreas Cederlund,Aron Naimi-Akbar

doi:10.1186/s12903-021-01705-x

Abstract

BackgroundThe Swedish Quality Registry for caries and periodontal disease (SKaPa) automatically collects data on caries and periodontitis from patients’ electronic dental records. Provided the data entries are reliable and accurate, the registry has potential value as a data source for registry-based research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the SKaPa registry information on dental caries in 6- and 12-year-old children.MethodThis diagnostic accuracy study compared dental caries data registered at an examination with dental health status registered in the patient’s electronic dental records, and with corresponding data retrieved from the SKaPa registry. Clinical examinations of 170 6- and 12-year-old children were undertaken by one of the researchers in conjunction with the children’s regular annual dental examinations where the number of teeth were registered, and dental caries was diagnosed using ICDAS II. Teeth with fillings were defined as filled and were added to the ICDAS II score and subsequently dft/DFT was calculated for each individual. Cohen’s Kappa, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and sensitivity and specificity were calculated to test the agreement of the ‘decayed and filled teeth’ in deciduous and permanent teeth (dft/DFT) from the three sources.ResultsCohen’s Kappa of the dft/DFT-values was calculated to 0.79 between the researcher and the patient record, to 0.95 between patient dental record and SKaPa, and to 0.76 between the researcher and SKaPa. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to 0.96 between the researcher and the patient journal, to 0.99 between the patient dental record vs. SKaPa, and to 0.95 between the researcher and SKaPa.ConclusionThe SKaPa registry information demonstrated satisfactory reliability and accuracy on dental caries in 6- and 12-year-old children and is a reliable source for registry-based research.Trial registration The study was registered in Clinical Trials (www.ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03039010)

Highlights

The Swedish Quality Registry for caries and periodontal disease (SKaPa) automatically collects data on caries and periodontitis from patients’ electronic dental records
Comparisons regarding dental caries were made between the researcher’s registrations, the data entered in the electronic dental records by the customary examiner and the data retrieved from the SKaPa registry
The child was immediately re-examined by the research examiner (TM), registering the number of teeth and dental caries using the ICDAS II score and dft/DFT was calculated for each individual

Summary

Introduction

The Swedish Quality Registry for caries and periodontal disease (SKaPa) automatically collects data on caries and periodontitis from patients’ electronic dental records. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the SKaPa registry information on dental caries in 6- and 12-year-old children. Dental caries is the most common chronic disease, often causing pain and requiring invasive interventions. The dental health of Swedish children and adolescents is good. Board of Health and Welfare has compiled data on manifest caries at certain ages (3, 6, 12 and 19 years) annually since 1985. A contributing factor is the free dental care for children and adolescents 0–19 years of age and the organization of dental services whereby the county councils have overall responsibility for delivery of dental care to children and young people. The dental care is delivered by the Public Dental Service or by contracted private practitioners [3]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion