Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41039529›Full record

Trial reportBMC medical education2025

Orthodontic diagnosis and usability of the web-based e-learning application orthotrainer.

Norbert Alexander Lang, Franziska Alina Lang, Martin Lemos, Laura Bell, Daniel Fink, Christian Niederau, Katharina Mücke, Kathrin Becker, Teresa Kruse, Bert Braumann and 2 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC medical education, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Norbert Alexander LangDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. nlang@ukaachen.de.
Franziska Alina LangDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Martin LemosAudiovisual Media Center, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Laura BellAudiovisual Media Center, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Daniel FinkAudiovisual Media Center, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Christian NiederauDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Katharina MückeDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Kathrin BeckerDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, Charité, Berlin, Germany.
Teresa KruseDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Medical Faculty Cologne University, Cologne, Germany.
Bert BraumannDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Medical Faculty Cologne University, Cologne, Germany.
Michael WolfDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Isabel KnaupDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn orthodontic education, the integration of digital teaching methods is crucial to meet the complex demands of the discipline. This study evaluates the performance of the web-based e-learning application Orthotrainer, designed for orthodontic case planning. It is hypothesised that case evaluations through this digital approach are comparable to traditional analogue measurement methods. The aim is to contribute to the standardisation of orthodontic learning content in North Rhine-Westphalia and promote innovative teaching strategies.

methodsA total of 61 dental students were randomly assigned to either an analogue (group A) or a digital (group D) cohort. The students were tasked with performing orthodontic case planning, which included model analysis and X-ray analysis, specifically OPG and LCR analysis. As part of a crossover design, both groups completed both a digital and an analogue treatment case. The quality and usability of the digital application were evaluated, and the results of the learning modes were quantitatively compared.

resultsIn the model analyses the tooth-width measurements were almost identical between analogue and digital methods, with only minimal differences observed. Analogue techniques demonstrated slightly higher accuracy in arch-width determinations, while the digital approach exhibited superiority over analogue measurements in classifying canine Angle relationships. Conversely, analogue gauge measurements maintained their superiority in molar classification In the radiographic assessment, the Orthotrainer demonstrated its superiority, with its lateral cephalometric radiograph landmarking (LCR) success rate exhibiting a significant increase in comparison to conventional methods (LCR: 55.74% vs. 46.80%). Both groups completed the case planning in the allotted time, with no significant differences. Finally, students provided a favourable evaluation of the Orthotrainer, with a mean System Usability Scale score of 77.62 (SD 23.16, 95% confidence interval [CI], 71.70–83.56).

conclusionsThe Orthotrainer provides diagnostic performance that is equivalent to that of traditional analogue case assessment, particularly regarding cephalometric analysis. It was also positively received by students in terms of diagnostic performance and user-friendliness, which indicates its potential as a reliable supplement to conventional teaching methods.

Indexed as

Computer-Assisted InstructionEducation, DentalInternetOrthodonticsCross-Over StudiesEducational MeasurementFemaleHumansMaleDental curriculumDigital dental educationE-learningHybrid learningTeaching innovationTechnology-enhanced learning

Identifiers

PMID41039529
PMCPMC12490099

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.