Purpose: To evaluate whether a concordance assessment (CA) software application is able to assess decisionmaking in restorative and prosthetic dentistry.
Materials and Methods: Vignettes representing 10 different clinical situations were integrated into a software application. Each vignette included 3D digital models and a short case, as well as 5 therapeutic options rated on a 4-point Likert scale (–2 = strongly contraindicated; –1 = contraindicated; +1 = indicated; +2 = strongly indicated). A panel of 15 dental educators (9 educators from a department of prosthetic dentistry [PD] and 6 from a department of conservative dentistry [CD]) evaluated the indication of each of the 5 therapies for the 10 vignettes.
Results: This pilot questionnaire showed good internal consistency in most therapies (Cronbach’s α = 0.86), with the exception of more recently introduced therapies (overlay/veneerlay and endocrown). Out of a maximum score of 100, the mean score for CD educators (79.2 ± 3.2) was not significantly different (P = .73) from that of a PD educator (77.8 ± 3.5). Scores ranged from 66.8 to 89.6. Analysis of the expert panel’s responses also mostly reported (34/50) a distribution of responses that was characteristic of CA and uncertain situations.
Conclusion: The present software application was able to reproduce and assess decision-making in dentistry with satisfying internal consistency of educators.
