Construction of an "Expert" Computer System to Screen for Dental Treatment Needs

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS: Michael MacEntee, Zoran Bugarinovic

SUMMARY: The objective of this project is to build a computer-based expert system for treatment planning in general dental practice. The program that we have constructed thus far - called TxDENT 2.0 - can be used on a PC with Windows 95, NT or any other 32-bit system.

TxDENT 2.0 is intended for private dentists and large dental clinics and offers a relatively unbiased way of screening patients and presenting treatment plans with the associated costs from examination clinical data.

The user is guided through a clinical examination with clearly defined outcome measures for clinical criteria relating to mucosa, TMJ, prostheses, tooth structure, caries and periodontal disease.

The examiner's responses are analyzed immediately to provide a plan of treatment and the associated fees. Some of the clinical parameters and all of the treatment fees can be adjusted by the user. A few treatment options are offered in situations where a choice is customary (e.g. a fixed bridge or a removable partial denture).

The expert logic has been translated into computer language and tested for reliability and validity in the UBC dental clinic. Further effectiveness and efficacy tests are underway. The base logic is also being used to develop a new system module within a comprehensive data management system for dental schools that will be tested and marketed as a separate version of TxDENT.

CO-INVESTIGATORS: J Meech, J Stitch
FUNDING: $33,500
SOURCE: UBC Learning and Teaching Enhancement Fund and BC Ministry of Employment
DURATION: 1996-99

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