This tool guides you through the DPI framework to assess whether a tooth can be practically restored. Follow the four categories in order and answer every Yes / No question honestly based on your clinical findings.
1
Fill in patient details
Enter the patient name, tooth number, your name, and today's date at the top.
2
Answer all Yes / No questions
Work through all 4 categories: Context → Structure → Periodontal → Endodontic. Each question has a colour-coded alert to guide you.
3
Click Next to move forward
The Next button only unlocks once every question in the current category is answered. You cannot skip ahead.
4
Get your DPI verdict
After the final category, click Calculate DPI Verdict. A full verdict with scores appears. Then tap Save Summary Card to screenshot the result for your records.
Summary Card
Dr. Sarang Suresh
Dental Practicality Index • Dawood & Patel (2017)
Patient
-
Tooth (FDI)
-
Student
-
Date
-
DPI Score
-
-
Screenshot this card for your records
DPI Assessment Protocol
0/4
Dr. Sarang Suresh
Dental Practicality Index
Patient / Case
Tooth (FDI)
Student
Date
Tooth planned as bridge or denture abutment?
If yes, DPI threshold drops from >6 to >4
Context: -
Structure: -
Perio: -
Endo: -
Total: -
01
Context
Local and general context of treatment
Assess the patient before the tooth. Answer every question based on history, examination, and investigations. Context score (0, 1, 2, or 6) reflects local dental environment and general medical context per Table 1 of Dawood and Patel (2017).
Paper: "A holistic view of the patient, taking into account not only their overall restorative needs, but also the impact of treatment in the wider context of their social, dental, and medical history must be taken." Dawood and Patel (2017), p.756
02
Structural integrity
Remaining coronal tooth structure and ferrule
Remove failing restorations and probe subgingivally before answering. The ferrule (2mm or more of sound dentine above the alveolar bone crest circumferentially) is the critical factor distinguishing Level 2 from Level 6.
Paper: "Level 6 - Insufficient tooth structure. An inadequate ferrule, deep subgingival margins and vertical root fractures are examples of factors which may mean that it is impractical to treat a tooth." Dawood and Patel (2017), p.756
03
Periodontal treatment need
Probing depths, furcation, mobility, bone support
Probe all six sites and review the periapical radiograph before answering. Record probing depths with BPE score, furcation (Lindhe), mobility grade, and radiographic bone levels.
Paper: "The DPI may change with initial investigations and stabilisation. Before making a definitive assessment it will often be necessary to carry out initial periodontal therapy to assess response." Dawood and Patel (2017), p.756
Perform pulp tests and review the periapical radiograph before answering. Assess vitality (cold/EPT), percussion, palpation, sinus tracts, canal morphology, root fill quality, and periapical pathology size.
Paper: "Level 6 - Root canals not amenable to predictable disinfection and/or obturation where periapical microsurgery may not be possible due to limited access and/or proximity of vital anatomical structures." Dawood and Patel (2017), p.756
DPI Verdict
-
-
Next steps per Dawood and Patel (2017)
Dawood A, Patel S. The Dental Practicality Index. Br Dent J 222, 755-758 (2017)