Validation of a computer-assisted system on classifying lower third molars.
OBJECTIVE
The present study evaluates the reliability of the Radio Memory® software (Radio Memory; Belo Horizonte, Brasil.) on classifying lower third molars, analyzing intra- and interexaminer agreement of the results.


METHODS
An observational, descriptive study of 280 lower third molars was made. The corresponding orthopantomographs were analyzed by two examiners using the Radio Memory® software. The exam was repeated 30 days after the first observation by each examiner. Both intra- and interexaminer agreement were determined using the SPSS v 12.0 software package for Windows (SPSS; Chicago, USA).


RESULTS
Intra- and interexaminer agreement was shown for both the Pell & Gregory and the Winter classifications, p<0.01, with 99% significant correlation between variables in all the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of Radio Memory® software for the classification of lower third molars is shown to be a valid alternative to the conventional method (direct evaluation on the orthopantomograph), for both clinical and investigational applications.
Cortell-Ballester
Isidoro
I
University of Barcelona Dental School, Barcelona, Spain.
Almendros-Marqués
Nieves
N
Berini-Aytés
Leonardo
L
Gay-Escoda
Cosme
C
D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012984:Software