title: Radiographic diagnosis of proximal caries-influence of experience and gender of the dental staff.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the influence of experience and gender on the radiographic detection of proximal caries lesions and on therapeutic decisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey of 220 examiners (students and employees at three universities and dentists in the field) was taken using a standardized written questionnaire concerning radiographic diagnosis and therapy planning. An expert opinion of four dentists was determined as radiographic reference. A mixed effect logistic regression model was used for statistical evaluation and the odds ratio and p values were calculated (α = 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Examiners with experience had an almost four times greater chance of a correct assessment, if proximal caries lesion was present or not, than examiners with low experience (OR 3.7 (95% CI 2.4-5.8)). No gender-specific differences were discovered (OR women vs. men 0.9 (95% CI 0.6-1.4)). There was a relationship between the severity of the burnout effect on the x-ray and false positive caries diagnosis. Overall, 43% of respondents would plan invasive treatment in the enamel on a patient at low risk of caries and 78% on a high-risk patient. The results showed that the more experienced practitioners would be more likely to postpone restorative therapy on proximal caries until the lesion reached a later stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that examiner's experience influences the radiographic diagnosis of proximal lesions. No gender-specific differences could be found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Examiner's professional experience is an important factor when radiography is included for detection and treatment planning of proximal lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentomaxillofacial Surgery, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany. margrit-ann.geibel@uniklinik-ulm.de.
authors.forename: Margrit-Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Geibel
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentomaxillofacial Surgery, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carstens
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, University of Ulm, Schwabstraße 13, 89075, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Braisch
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, Tuebingen University Hospital, Osianderstraße 2-8, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Community Dentistry, Philipps University, Georg-Voigt-Straße 3, 35033, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jablonski-Momeni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003797:Dental Staff; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Dental caries; Diagnosis; Gender; Proximal caries; Radiography