Interexaminer and intraexaminer reliabilities of 3-dimensional orthodontic digital setups

Abstract

Introduction: The use of digital orthodontic setups has grown quickly. The purpose of this study was to test the interexaminer and intraexaminer reliabilities of 3-dimensional orthodontic digital setups in OrthoCAD (Align Technology, San Jose, Calif).

Methods: Six clinicians made digital orthodontic setups on 6 digital models twice, with a minimum interval of 2 weeks and a maximum interval of 4 weeks. OrthoCAD software was used, and treatment goals were all set the same according to the American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System (ABO-OGS). Differences between the 72 setups were measured with the ABO-OGS scores.

Results: In comparing setups 1 and 2, the intraexaminer mean absolute differences in total ABO-OGS scores varied statistically significantly between 2.17 and 6.00 points. Interexaminer mean absolute differences varied statistically significantly between 4.77 and 5.56 points. All but 1 intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value showed significant excellent agreement (ICC, >0.8) for intraexaminer reliability. One ICC value was insignificant and showed moderate (ICC, 0.4-0.6) agreement. Interexaminer reliability showed significant good (ICC, 0.6-0.8) agreement.

Conclusions: There is a significant difference in ABO-OGS score when using OrthoCAD. Although this difference was low, it could be clinically significant. Interexaminer and intraexaminer reliabilities are not redundant for general use of the 3-dimensional orthodontic digital setup in OrthoCAD.