Hollevoet, Dustin Allen2011-10-252011-10-252011-08https://hdl.handle.net/11299/117022University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. August 2011. Major: Dentistry. Advisor: Brent Larson. 1 computer file (PDF); iv, 36 pages.Introduction: Panoramic images are an important part of a patient’s dental and orthodontic record. They provide broad coverage and are a valuable screening tool for potential abnormalities and normal dental development. Dental students learn much about panoramic image anatomy during dental school but are not usually taught a systematic method of image interpretation. The use of an eye-tracker will allow visualization and statistical analysis of interpretation method to find differences between newer and experienced clinicians. Information gathered can be used to recommend an interpretation method to newer clinicians as they begin their dental career. Methods and Materials: Two groups of clinicians were created: ten clinicians with more than five years clinical experience (experienced clinicians) and ten clinicians with five years or less experience (newer clinicians). Five panoramic images, three which contained no significant findings and two which had significant findings, were used in the study. An eye-tracker and the eye-tracking software were used to record and evaluate the interpretation methods to find differences between the groups. Results: Newer clinician’s interpretation path entered more areas of pathology or abnormality in portions of the image other than the dentition. Areas of abnormality or pathology within the dentition were entered equally by the interpretations paths of both groups. Newer clinicians had longer interpretation times and their interpretations included more fixation points and covered more image area. Experienced clinicians were quicker with interpretation and showed more of an interpretation pattern. Conclusions: Newer clinicians are more complete (interpret the entire image), have more fixation points and spend longer time interpreting. Newer clinicians often had no pattern to interpretation, but had interpretation paths which entered areas of pathology or abnormality due to completeness of interpretation. Experienced clinicians showed much more pattern (systematic approach) to interpretation, but were less complete. In both groups, interpretations times were significantly longer when the entire image was interpreted.en-USDentistryThesis or Dissertation