Comparison of gray-level detectability on computer monitors among several dental specialties: A web-based study

Abstract

Background. Diagnosis in dentistry begins with the correct reading and interpreting of the dental radio-graph.Objectives. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of the imaging technique used, the dentistry specialty and the years of experience on the gray-level perception among dentists.Material and methods. A custom web application was developed. Dentomaxillofacial radiologists (DentRads), endodontists (Ends) and general dental practitioners (GDPs) were invited via e-mail to parti-cipate in the study. A total of 46 participants met the requirements of the test. The test comprised 2 webpages. On the 1st page, the participants were asked for information such as gender, specialty, the years of experience, and the imaging techniques they used. Then, on the 2nd page, they were welcomed with instructions and directions, and asked to rearrange 85 gray color tones represented by square bars of equal dimensions. These mixed gray bars were placed in 4 rows according to the principles of the Farnsworth- Munsell 100-hue test (FM). Each clinician's test results were recorded in a database. The individual's level of recognition of gray tones was evaluated through the total error score (TES), which was calculated using a web-based independent scoring software program. Lower TES values were a desirable result, indicating fewer misplacement, while higher scores indicated more misplacements of gray tones. The testing time (TT) was recorded automatically.Results. The years of the participants' experience as dentists or specialists did not affect TES or TT. The dentists who used the charge-coupled device-complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CCD-CMOS) had lower TES values than those who used analog radiographs (p < 0.05).Conclusions. While the specialty and the years of experience did not affect the clinicians' ability to recognize gray tones, the digital imaging techniques (photostimulable phosphor (PSP) and CCD/CMOS) could improve the clinicians'gray-level perception.