Inter-Operator Reliability of Dental Morphometric Measurements

Measurement-based studies are prone to measurement errors, which occur at the same operator or between different operators during repeated measurements of the same sample. To assess the inter-operator reliability of morphometric measurements using a bidimensional image analysis method. Eight study models have been selected, images of teeth and models were taken from vestibular and occlusal view. The following parameters were measured individually by three, previously trained operators: mesio-distal, occluso-gingival, and vestibulo-oral dimensions, vestibular and occlusal area, depth of palatal arch, arch breadth, arch circumference, and arch length. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated for each measurement. The reliability of the measurements showed high degrees, all values being higher than 0.8. Dental morphometric measurements done by 2D image analysis can be performed by multiple operators with an excellent reliability.