title: EICO-1: an orthodontist-maintained expert system in clinical orthodontics.
abstract: Expert systems are increasingly being used to provide comprehensive interpretative services for diagnosis and treatment planning. Some of these systems are constrained by the complexities of rule-based strategies and a need for knowledge engineers throughout the maintenance phase. A new approach to knowledge acquisition known as Ripple-Down-Rules was used in the development of EICO-1 (Expert Interpretation in Clinical Orthodontics). This expert-maintained system for automating orthodontic reports has a knowledge base of six hundred and eighty rules, and is maintained by an expert trained only in Orthodontics and without the help of knowledge engineers. EICO-1 is the first expert system in Dentistry to use Ripple-Down-Rules. It has potential as an interactive advisory tool and is applicable in a clinical situation.
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Freer
mesh_terms: D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D003199:Computer Systems; D005103:Expert Systems; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D012984:Software