Dental chart validation for an epidemiological oro-functional investigation in a 6-to-14 years-old children population
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper was to assess the quality of a dental chart to record the oro-functional conditions in a pediatric population, if a systematic and well-structured questionnaire plays a fundamental role in the correct diagnosis and treatment planning process. METHODS: The project was performed by auditing a "guided" dental chart formulated for subjects from 6-to-14 years-old, proposed by the International Medical University in Rome "UniCamillus," in the period between March 2022 to June 2024. The subjects included were visited by five dental expert examiners during a project coordinated by the same University. The form was divided into three parts: 1) a questionnaire for the parents regarding remote and current habits; 2) parental consent; 3) a dental chart, filled out by the examiners. At the end of the project each examiners received an anonymous satisfaction questionnaire regarding the dental chart validation. RESULTS: A total of 1033 charts were examined. Each chart was edited and validated by each examiner. None of the charts was discarded for inconsistencies/inadequacy. According to the examiner's questionnaire, the results reported that they were partially (60%) aware of the topic covered and that almost everyone (80%) was interested in deepening them; all the examiners (100%) easily filled out the chart and understood the language, supporting the validity of the project. CONCLUSIONS: Each expert examiner confirmed the chart validity during the clinical examination, supporting the importance that a complete and standardized method for data collection can be considered essential for a correct diagnosis and therapeutical effective plan, guarantees a proper maintenance of dental records for private/public clinical practice and facilitates data analysis in epidemiological investigations.
Source: Minerva Dental and Oral Science
Language: English
Subfield: Orthodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4416411701