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The use of smartphones in radiographic diagnosis: accuracy on the detection of marginal gaps

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Abstract

Objective

To compare the accuracy of computer monitor and smartphone screen for radiographic diagnosis of marginal gap.

Materials and methods

Forty teeth with mesial-occlusal-distal inlays (each tooth with a perfect fit and a 0.4-mm marginal gap restoration) were imaged with a phosphor plate system. Original digital radiographs were exported and analyzed with two different methods: computer monitor and smartphone screen; for the last method, images were shared with WhatsApp. Three examiners assessed all radiographs (n = 160) for the presence of marginal gap by using a dichotomous scale (yes/no). Diagnostic performance of each examiner and viewing method was evaluated by means of sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), and overall accuracy (Ac). Difference between the frequencies of gap detection of each method was analyzed using the McNemar test. Intra- and inter-examiner agreements were calculated using kappa statistics.

Results

Intra- and inter-examiner agreements were ≥ 0.80 for both methods. Similar diagnostic performance was found for computer monitor (Se = 0.87–1; Sp = 0.8–0.97; Ac = 0.84–0.99) and smartphone (Se = 0.77–1; Sp = 0.87–1; Ac = 0.88–0.95) viewing methods. No statistically significant differences in the frequency of gap detection were observed between the methods (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Diagnostic accuracy of smartphone screens was similar to that of computer monitor for marginal gap detection.

Clinical relevance

Smartphones are becoming a common daily tool. In this sense, it might be an important new aid in Dentistry, including radiographic evaluation, which could benefit patients and dentists.

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Fig. 1

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Funding

This study was financed by the Coordination for Funding and Support of Tertiary Education (CAPES), Brazil (grant No. 12496/12-0).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dental Sciences Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil

    Giuliano O. Giacomini & Camilla S. Tibúrcio-Machado

  2. School of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil

    Carolina Antonioli

  3. Oral Radiologist at Centro de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Mathias P. Fontana

  4. Section of Oral Radiology, Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Marechal Floriano Peixoto, 1184, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, 97015-372, Brazil

    Gabriela Salatino Liedke

Authors
  1. Giuliano O. Giacomini
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  2. Carolina Antonioli
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  3. Camilla S. Tibúrcio-Machado
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  4. Mathias P. Fontana
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  5. Gabriela Salatino Liedke
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gabriela Salatino Liedke.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee. The human research ethics committee of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (certificate number, 225034) approved the study.

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Giacomini, G.O., Antonioli, C., Tibúrcio-Machado, C.S. et al. The use of smartphones in radiographic diagnosis: accuracy on the detection of marginal gaps. Clin Oral Invest 23, 1993–1996 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-019-02848-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-019-02848-6

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