Aim
To evaluate the influence of notebook computers screens and undergraduate level of dental students in the radiographic detection of carious lesions.
Methods
Bitewing digital radiographs were presented to 3rd and 5th year dental students in three different notebooks computers: Notebook 1 with anti-glare screen (1366×768 pixels), Notebook 2 without anti-glare screen (1366×768 pixels), and Notebook 3 with anti-glare screen (1920×1080 pixels). A reference standard based on a consensus analysis was set by three senior professors of Oral Radiology and Cariology. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy values were measured and submitted to two-way ANOVA at a significance level of 5%.
Results
Notebook 2 provided significantly lower sensitivity values (Mean 56.5% ± 2.94) than notebook 3 (71.1% ± 2.82) (p = 0.002). We found no statistically significant differences between the two undergraduate years (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
The anti-glare screen of notebook computers screens can influence the radiographic detection of carious lesions, but the undergraduate level of dental students does not influence this diagnostic task.
Keywords
Dental caries; Radiography, dental, digital; Students; Diagnostic imaging