Reliability of a digital system for models measurements in BBO grading: A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Dental Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Current methods for evaluating digital orthodontic models in the Brazilian Board of Orthodontics (BBO) certification exam are not considered effective.
• A reliable digital evaluation method is needed to align with the parameters of the established manual method.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the reliability of a proposed digital model evaluation method for the BBO exam.
• To compare the digital method's performance against the current gold standard (manual Objective Grading System - OGS).

Main Methods:

• Five calibrated examiners measured ten sets of digitized orthodontic plaster models using a 3D scanner and Geomagic Qualify software.
• Measurements were repeated after fifteen days to assess intra-examiner reliability.
• Statistical analysis included paired t-tests, ANOVA, Tukey's test, and Pearson's correlation to compare manual and digital methods.

Main Results:

• The digital method demonstrated effectiveness in measuring four of seven Objective Grading System (OGS) variables: Marginal Ridge, Overjet, Occlusal Contact, and Interproximal Contact.
• Significant differences were observed when comparing the digital method to the manual approach.
• Variables such as Alignment, Buccolingual (BL) inclination, and Occlusal Relationship exhibited considerable data dispersion.

Conclusions:

• The digital evaluation method shows potential but requires further development for comprehensive application in the BBO exam.
• Additional research is necessary to create a digital methodology that accurately captures all OGS variables.