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The Dental Practicality Index - to treat or not to treat
Shanon Patel1, Len D'Cruz2, Samantha Hamer3
1Endodontic Postgraduate Unit, King´s College London Dental Institute, London, UK; Guy´s NHS Trust, London, UK; Specialist Practice, London, UK. shanonpatel@gmail.com.
Abstract:
The Dental Practicality Index (DPI) has been designed to describe, on a clinical level, the 'practicality' of restoring a tooth versus referring to secondary care or extraction.The systematic approach of DPI has been shown to improve decision-making and confidence in treatment planning when used by young dentists. In addition, there is good evidence demonstrating that it provides an accurate estimation of the outcome of treatment. The DPI enhances clinician-patient communication and ultimately the consent process.
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