Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (Nov 2024)
Exploring Intraoral Photography: A Cross-sectional Analysis of Commercially Available versus Newly Designed and Patented Contraster using Self-designed Criteria
Abstract
Introduction: Intraoral photography is crucial in dentistry for documentation, communication and education. Contrasters play a pivotal role, influencing patient experience and image quality. Traditional metal contrasters have limitations regarding patient friendliness and procedural compatibility. Aim: To assess ease and comfort among patients and operators and to compare the contrasting ability of commercially available contrasters with newly designed contrasters in intraoral photography. Materials and Methods: A single-blinded, cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the Department of Conservative and Endodontics and the Department of Orthodontics, KM Shah Dental College and Hospital, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, from January 2024 to February 2024. After obtaining ethical approval, 50 patients with no pain, swelling, or discomfort in the maxillary anterior region, as well as, only those operators trained in intraoral Digital Single-lens Reflex (DSLR) photography, were enrolled. Following randomisation and standard camera settings, intraoral images were captured by 50 operators using both conventional metal and newly designed 3D-printed contrasters. Patients and operators evaluated ease, comfort, contrasting ability, and the presence of a palatal gap using self-designed criteria. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0. The Chi-square test of proportion was applied to evaluate differences in proportion, while the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the two contrasters. A confidence interval of 95% and p-value0.05). Conclusion: The newly designed contrasters demonstrated superior patient comfort and reduced pain compared to commercially available contrasters. Operators experienced easier placement with similar contrasting abilities.
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