Having clear X-rays and images is critical for making an accurate diagnosis and forming treatment plans. Dentists can achieve this by using high-quality dental monitors and other diagnostic equipment.
A high-quality dental monitor allows doctors to see the fine details in X-rays – details they might’ve missed had they been viewing the X-ray on a regular consumer monitor. Without the ability to see an image fully and clearly, the chance of a dentist misdiagnosing their patient or needed to re-perform a procedure begins to rise.
If extreme circumstances, having unclear images could lead to a malpractice lawsuit. Medical malpractice is when an injury is caused to a patient due to negligence on the part of a dentist or their team. This negligence can be caused by a misdiagnosis or incorrect treatment plan.
Therefore, both taking and displaying quality images are two things all dentists should think about improving in their practice. In this particular article, we will focus on how to display quality images and will address the features one should look for in a quality dental monitor.
4 factors which can determine image quality in a dental monitor
- Grayscale Calibration
- Gamma Correction
- Lumen (brightness)
- Resolution
Grayscale Calibration
Grayscale is the range of gray shades between white and black. In an X-ray, the various gray shades need to be distinguishable in order to see fine details. Since dentists rely heavily on X-rays to make an accurate diagnosis and create treatment plans, it’s crucial for dental monitors to have a finely-calibrated grayscale.
Unlike regular consumer monitors, the DENclarity dental monitor was produced and tested in accordance with the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) standard of assessing grayscale. SMPTE was the first organization to develop a testing standard for measuring grayscale and is, therefore, a trusted leader in this field.
Due to its finely-calibrated grayscale, the DENclarity dental monitor is able to clearly display X-rays.
Gamma Correction
Gamma correction is a way of optimizing the usage of bits in an image so that it takes advantage of the way humans perceive light and color. Without gamma, digital images would often look different than we anticipated them to – too dark or light, washed out, off-color, etc.
A dental monitor with quality gamma correction will adjust the images being displayed so that they are true to color.
Brightness (Lumen)
When it comes to picking a dental monitor which will display quality images and X-rays, the higher the brightness or lumen-level, the better. The concept is similar to that of a well-lit room vs. a dimly-lit room. It’s easier to see the details of a room if it’s well-lit (has a higher brightness level throughout).
When picking out a dental monitor with high brightness, pay close attention to the number with cd/m2 next to it. Cd/m2 stands for candela per square meter and is the unit which brightness is measured in.
The ideal brightness level for viewing an X-ray is 400 cd/m2. Most regular consumer monitors only have a brightness level of 250-300 cd/m2, but the DENclarity dental monitor has a brightness level of 440 cd/m2.
Resolution
Resolution refers to the number of pixels arranged vertically and horizontally across a screen. Pixels are the individual dots of illumination – what digital images are created out of. The smaller the pixels and the more pixels there are, the clearer an image is.
A high definition (HD) monitor with 1920 x 1080 resolution panel has 1080 lines and uses 1920 pixels. This equates to an aspect ratio of 16:9 – the native frame which displays image accurately. When shopping for a dental monitor, you should always make sure it has a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080.
Is there a dental monitor which checks off all the boxes and is capable of displaying clear, quality images?
Yes! The DENclarity dental display is monitor designed specifically for dentists and other medical professionals. It has a finely-tuned grayscale, gamma correction, a high lumen-level of 440 cd/ms, and a resolution of 1920 x 1080. These factors allow it to display high quality and clear images such as X-rays, dental charts, and treatment plans.
Learn more about the benefits of DENclarity dental monitors here.
