Standardizing data collection and decision making with an expert system.

The software for the pilot system has been completed. The appropriateness of the risk factor weights needs to be evaluated by clinical testing. However, this does not prevent the system from being used to teach the philosophy of risk group identification and selection of different management strategies according to disease activity. The current system does demonstrate a dynamic relationship between caries risk assessment/activity and different management strategies. A formal scientific evaluation of the effectiveness of the system as a teaching tool is being developed.