Use of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System by dental students at the University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Aim

To explore dental students’ ability to examine dental caries after the introduction of a new dental caries detection and assessment tool. In addition, improvement in dental students’ knowledge and cognitive skills in cariology was assessed.

Subjects and methods

The study involved seventy-nine participants, who are at different levels in the dental academic program. The students’ knowledge on cariology was assessed before and after the introduction of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS).

The assessment involved the examination of extracted teeth (n = 22) and a perception on the overall knowledge gain using a questionnaire. The study consisted of a pre- and post-survey on cariology knowledge. A follow-up examination of the teeth was performed after introducing the participants to the ICDAS.

Results

There were a total of seventy-nine participants (n = 79) in this study. The pre-survey demonstrated that dental interns and senior students had better knowledge of cariology and were more confident detecting dental caries compared with junior students. The mean ICDAS coding agreement (between groups) in 11 (50%) of the extracted teeth were statistically significant (p < 0.05). In addition, there were differences within groups’ knowledge on cariology in the pre- and post survey (p < 0.05). The majority of the subjects (n = 77, 98%) recommended the use of ICDAS as a teaching aid in the department of cariology.

Conclusion

The introduction of ICADS during teaching caries detection was perceived by dental students as an effective method. The ICDAS should be introduced and taught at a pre-clinic level to dental students in Saudi Arabian dental schools.