Objectives:To investigate whether standardizing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) display devices to the digital imaging and communications in medicine part 14: greyscale standard display function (DICOM part 14: GSDF) would affect the presentation of dental images.Methods:Two COTS display devices from the radiology department of a dental teaching hospital and a laptop computer monitor for reference were calibrated to conform to DICOM part 14: GSDF. Four dental surgeons and two final-year students undertook a relative visual grading analysis of the two devices before and after calibration, under control of the viewing environment.Results:Calibrating COTS display devices to conform to the DICOM part 14: GSDF and viewing under reduced ambient light result in a consistent, perceived visual sensation for the presented radiological image. The area under the visual grading characteristics curve (AUCVGC) before calibration is 0.62 CI (0.56, 0.68) and AUCVGC after calibration is 0.51 CI (0.45, 0.57).Conclusions:Standardizing COTS display devices to the DICOM part 14: GSDF can improve image presentation.

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Many dental practitioners use flat panel monitors in their practices on a daily basis, and for those practitioners who have made the move to digital imaging, the use of this device often extends to viewing digital radiographs. Monitors that present good quality images should be used and the image quality should be checked. This article provides practitioners with some of the key areas they should consider when selecting or buying a flat panel monitor for dental radiology purposes.