Effect of monitor display on detection of approximal caries lesions in digital radiographs

Objectives: The aim was to compare the accuracy of five flat panel monitors for detection of approximal caries lesions. Methods: Five flat panel monitors, Mermaid Ventura (15 inch, colour flat panel, 1024×768, 32 bit, analogue), Olorin VistaLine (19 inch, colour, 1280×1024, 32 bit, digital), Samsung SyncMaster 203B (20 inch, colour, 1024×768, 32 bit, analogue), Totoku ME251i (21 inch, greyscale, 1400×1024, 32 bit, digital) and Eizo FlexScan MX190 (19 inch, colour, 1280×1024, 32 bit, digital), were assessed. 160 approximal surfaces of human teeth were examined with a storage phosphor plate system (Digora FMX, Soredex) and assessed by seven observers for the presence of caries lesions. Microscopy of the teeth served as validation for the presence/absence of a lesion. Results: The sensitivities varied between observers (range 7–25%) but the variation between the monitors was not large. The Samsung monitor obtained a significantly higher sensitivity than the Mermaid and Olorin monitors (P<0.02) and a lower sp...