Visual Behaviour During the Interpretation of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Images of Traumatic Dental Injuries: An Eye-Tracking Study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional observational study aimed to investigate the visual attention patterns of postgraduate endodontic residents during the interpretation of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans for traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) using eye-tracking technology. METHODS: A cohort of 10 residents who were recruited from King Abdulaziz University Dental Hospital (KAUDH) underwent interpretation of seven CBCT images of TDIs. Eye-tracking metrics, including dwell time, entry time, end time, and the number of revisits, were recorded and analyzed using nonparametric statistical tests. RESULTS: Eye-tracking data revealed that patients with lateral luxation and extrusive luxation pathologies had the longest mean dwell times (1.82 seconds and 1.50 seconds, respectively). These findings were statistically significant compared to other pathologies (p<0.001). Conversely, horizontal root fractures and periapical radiolucency were identified more quickly by the participants (mean entry times of 6.60 seconds and 8.84 seconds, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate variability in visual attention metrics depending on the type of TDI, suggesting that certain injuries may require more focused attention for accurate diagnosis. Specifically, lateral and extrusive luxation injuries attracted longer dwell times, possibly due to their unique diagnostic challenges. This research provides a basis for future studies aiming to optimize education and training related to CBCT interpretation of traumatic dental injuries.