The impact of the Dental Practicality Index on treatment planning

Aim To compare the treatment planning decisions made by undergraduate and postgraduate dental students before and after training on the use of the Dental Practicality Index (DPI).Methodology One hundred and eight undergraduate and postgraduate dental students were randomly assigned to test (DPI) or control groups. The baseline knowledge was assessed in the first session; both groups were shown 15 clinical scenarios and asked to assign one of four treatment plan options (no treatment, simple treatment, complex treatment or extract). The most appropriate treatment plan had been agreed by a consensus panel of experienced dentists. The test group was then trained on the use of the DPI. In the second session, both groups were shown the same clinical scenarios again in a different order and asked to assign one of the four treatment plan options. Both groups completed the confidence questionnaire.Results Training with the DPI improved the test (DPI) group mean scores from 9.1 in the first session to 10.3 out of 15 in the second session, which was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.005) when compared to the control group mean scores of 8.9 in the first session to 9.2 out of 15 in the second session. The mean confidence score of the students was 6.5 out of 10. There was no correlation between self-reported confidence scores of the students and the treatment planning result scores.Conclusions The DPI aids in the systematic assessment and appropriate treatment planning of dental restorative problems by dental students.