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Evaluation of a system for grading the complexity of root canal treatment
A Muthukrishnan1, J Owens, S Bryant
1Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK. akhila.muthukrishnan@swansea-tr.nhs.wales.uk
Aim:
To evaluate the reproducibility of the Restorative Index of Treatment Need (RIOTN) system for grading the complexity of root canal treatment.
Methodology:
The RIOTN system of grading the complexity of root canal treatment was applied to all endodontic referrals to a department of restorative dentistry in a district general hospital within a period of one year. Grading was repeated in 60 randomly selected teeth and weighted kappa analysis was used to test for intra-observer as well as inter-observer agreement with a consultant in restorative dentistry and a vocational trainee (VT).
Results:
In all, 152 patients were referred for root canal treatment of 186 teeth within the period of study. Weighted kappa for intra-observer agreement when categorising complexity was 0.636. Weighted kappa for inter-observer agreement with the consultant was 0.570 and that for agreement with the VT was 0.223.
Conclusion:
The RIOTN system of grading the complexity of root canal treatment was incomplete; with moderate to poor reproducibility.