The Assessment of Digital Study Models Using the GOSLON Yardstick Index

Objective: To investigate the reproducibility and repeatability of digital models of patients with a unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) using the GOSLON yardstick. Design: Reproducibility and repeatability study. Method: Two examiners used the GOSLON yardstick to assess the intermaxillary dentoalveolar relationship of 30 consecutive UCLP patients by analyzing their 9-year (±3 months) dental study casts and digital study models. The records were rated 1 week apart to avoid bias. The process was repeated 1 month later as a measure of reproducibility. Reliability was assessed by comparing the GOSLON score achieved between the two modalities. Patient dental study casts were sent to 3M Unitek Australia to be scanned using the 3M Unitek LavaTM system to produce digital study models. The accuracy of the dental study cast occlusal registration was assessed by both raters prior to sending the study models for scanning. Statistical analysis: The Linear Weighted Kappa statistic and Kendall's Coefficient of Conco...