PAR Score
Also written as: PAR — Peer Assessment Rating
A quantitative measure of the degree of dental irregularity before and after orthodontic treatment, used to assess treatment outcome.
Full Definition
The Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) score is an internationally recognised index for objectively measuring the outcome of orthodontic treatment by comparing pre- and post-treatment dental models or photographs. A reduction in PAR score indicates improvement, with a greater reduction representing a more successful outcome. A weighted PAR score reduction of 22 points or more, or a reduction of 70% or more, is generally considered a 'greatly improved' result under UK NHS audit standards. Editors should capitalise 'PAR' as an acronym and ensure it is expanded on first use in formal documents.
Usage
Usage note: Expand to 'Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) score' on first reference. When citing percentage reduction thresholds, verify against the specific weighted or unweighted scoring protocol used, as regional variants exist.
In Context
- "Post-treatment PAR scores showed a mean reduction of 78%, indicating a high standard of outcome." — Orthodontic audit report
- "The PAR score was calculated from pre- and post-treatment study models by a calibrated assessor." — Research paper methods section