Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background. Gingival health assessment has long been regarded as critical in dentistry. Gingival inflammation can be induced by injury or plaque-related disease, and a decrease in inflammation might be an indicator of gingival healing. There is quite limited research on the development of a non-invasive approach to assess gingival health. The study sought to assess the accuracy of gingival parameters using professional camera ("Canon EOS 1300D", Canon Inc. Japan) and Smartphone (Apple iPhone 15 Pro, Apple Inc. United States (designed); Assembled in India) digital photographs before and following treatment of individual patients. Methods. Thirty four patients with gingivitis were selected and photographic images were captured using professional and smartphone cameras. Gingival parameters were examined using pictures of the maxillary anterior region taken at distances of 24, 28, and 32 cm from the examination site. All images were evaluated using the free ImageJ software (U.S. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA) with an accuracy of 0.01 mm. Results. There was no significant difference in gingival parameters between images taken using either professional or smartphone photography. The results showed no significant difference in gingival color assessment at 24, 28, and 32 cm distances between the two images. Conclusion. Measuring gingival characteristics by digital images may become an important, practicable, cost-effective method of evaluating gingival inflammation. Clinical Significance: These two methods can complement each other, with professional assessment being the gold standard for precise diagnosis and smartphone imaging serving as a more accessible and convenient alternative for routine monitoring and remote consultations.