Evaluation of eye movement patterns during reading of mixed dentition panoramic radiographs in dental students

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to clarify effective eye movement patterns during mixed dentition panoramic radiographic reading in dental students.

Methods

Sixty fifth-year dental students (19 women and 41 men) participated in the study and visually observed mixed dentition panoramic radiograph. Eye movement patterns during reading were classified into group R for clockwise (right rotation), group L for counterclockwise (left rotation), or group S for few fixations and mainly saccades. The reading results, number of fixations, number of blinks, pupil area, and average amplitude were compared among the three groups.

Results

Participants in group R had significantly better reading performance (P < 0.001, analysis of variance) and tended to have larger pupil areas than the other groups. Participants in group S had poorer reading performance, significantly fewer fixations, significantly more blinks, smaller pupil area, and greater average amplitude than the other groups (P < 0.001, respectively, analysis of variance, Kruskal–Wallis test).

Conclusions

When reading panoramic radiographs in the mixed dentition phase, observations in a clockwise order are recommended, as they are associated with improved learning performance. Frequent eye movements may indicate lower levels of interest or difficulty with the task and are associated with poorer learning performance. Classifying eye movement patterns while observing a test image provides suggestions that can be used to improve education in diagnostic imaging of pediatric dentistry.