UCSF

Purpose: To evaluate whether the SOPROCARE camera system due to fluorescence imaging allowed for detection of microbial plaque and gingival inflammation and if imaging correlated to a Microbial Plaque (Turesky modification of the Quigley and Hein Plaque Index) and a Gingival Index (Loe & Silness).

Materials & Methods: The study involved three groups of patients of 13 years or older. This included the overall sample and two subgroups--those with gingival pigmentation and those with orthodontic brackets. A stratified recruitment based on a clinical screening of the presented plaque amount covering the front teeth was performed. Photos were taken using the SOPROCARE camera system and conventional digital photography. After imaging, two examiners using the Turesky modification of the Quigley and Hein Plaque Index and the Loe & Silness Gingival Index, respectively, scored plaque levels and gingival inflammation.

Hypothesis: The first hypothesis was the SOPROCARE camera system in perio mode allows for detection and scoring of microbial plaque and that these scores correlate with a microbial plaque index. The second hypothesis was the SOPROCARE camera system in perio mode allows for detection and scoring of gingival inflammation and that these scores correlate with a gingival inflammation index.

Results:

55 patients were recruited into the study. The first subgroup consisted of 8 patients with dark pigmented gingiva. The second subgroup had 11 patients who were undergoing orthodontic treatment with brackets. The overall clinical average plaque value was 1.1 ± 1.2 (mean ± Standard Deviation [SD]). Subjects with orthodontic brackets exhibited the highest averages but no significant difference was seen among all subgroups. The average gingival inflammation index was 0.7 ± 0.9, with no significant difference among all subgroups. It was observed that those with pigmented gingiva did exhibit lower gingival index values but this was a consistent finding among all evaluation methods. Clinical plaque and gingival inflammation averages correlated best with SOPROCARE perio scores.

Discussion:

It was determined that the SOPROCARE device in perio mode allowed for reliable judgment of plaque and gingival inflammation when compared to the Turesky modified Quigley Hein index and the Silness & Loe gingival inflammation index.