title: Effects of Different Viewing Conditions on Radiographic Interpretation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Optimum viewing conditions facilitate identification of radiographic details and decrease the need for retakes, patients' costs and radiation dose. This study sought to evaluate the effects of different viewing conditions on radiographic interpretation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This diagnostic study was performed by evaluating radiograph of a 7mm-thick aluminum block, in which 10 holes with 2mm diameters were randomly drilled with depths ranging from 0.05 mm to 0.50mm. The radiograph was viewed by four oral radiologists independently under four viewing conditions, including a white light viewing light box in a lit room, yellow light viewing light box in a lit room, white light viewing light box in a dark room and yellow light viewing light box in a dark room. Number of circular shadows observed on the film was recorded. The data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of detected circular shadows was 6.75, 7.5, 7.25 and 7.75 in white light viewing light box in a lit room, white light viewing light box in a dark room, yellow light viewing light box in a lit room and yellow light viewing light box in a dark room, respectively. Although the surrounding illumination had statistically significant effect on the radiographic details (P≤0.03), the light color of the viewing light box had no significant effect on visibility of the radiographic details.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  White and yellow light of the viewing light box had no significant effect on visibility of the radiographic details but more information was obtained in a dark room.
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mahkameh
authors: M
authors: Moshfeghi
authors: Dentist, Private Practice, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Majid
authors: M
authors: Shahbazian
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Dental School, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors: Soodabeh Sadat
authors: SS
authors: Sajadi
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Endodontics, Dental School, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors: Sepideh
authors: S
authors: Sajadi
authors: Assistant Professor, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
authors: Hossein
authors: H
authors: Ansari
keywords: Lighting; Radiographic Image Interpretation; Radiography, Dental