Influence of notebook computers screens and undergraduate level of dental students in the radiographic detection of carious lesions

Abstract

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.