Inconsistencies in a nationwide caries recording system

Area of Science:

• Oral Health Surveillance
• Dental Public Health
• Health Informatics

Background:

• The Danish nationwide oral health registration system collects extensive dental data.
• Previous research has utilized this system, highlighting the need to validate data consistency.
• Assessing data reliability is crucial for the integrity of epidemiological studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the types and frequencies of inconsistencies in caries recordings within the Danish system.
• To evaluate the reliability of tooth and surface status data over time.
• To identify specific areas or tooth types with higher inconsistency rates.

Main Methods:

• A random sample of 2189 individuals was selected for analysis.
• Two sequential registrations were compared on a surface-by-surface basis (209,791 surfaces).
• Inconsistencies were defined as reversals in tooth or surface caries status.

Main Results:

• The overall frequency of impossible changes in permanent tooth status was 0.9%, with premolars showing higher rates (2.8%) than molars (0.3%).
• Impossible changes in surface caries scores occurred in 5.8% of primary and 5.9% of permanent dentitions.
• Inconsistency frequencies varied significantly based on tooth surface and initial caries score.

Conclusions:

• The Danish oral health registration system exhibits a low frequency of impossible tooth status changes.
• Surface-level caries recording shows moderate inconsistency, necessitating careful interpretation of longitudinal data.
• Findings suggest areas for targeted quality improvement in data collection protocols.