Feasibility of oral health evaluation by intraoral digital photography: a pilot study

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the accuracy and duration of intraoral digital photograph examination (IDPE) for evaluating oral health status and explored the feasibility of remote oral health assessment.

Methods: Thirty-one healthy college students underwent evaluations of oral health status via clinical examination (CE) combined with panoramic X-ray assessment at baseline, followed by IDPE 1 month later using photos taken at baseline. Methods for evaluation of gingival health included the Modified Gingival Index (MGI) and Plaque Index (PI). Examinations of caries status included the decayed, missing, and filled teeth and surfaces indexes (DMFT and DMFS indexes, respectively). The duration of each evaluation was also recorded.

Results: There were significant differences in MGI and PI between CE and IDPE. There were no significant differences in DMFT and DMFS indexes between CE and IDPE, and there were positive correlations between CE and IDPE for each of the two indexes (DMFT index: r=0.56; DMFS index: r=0.69). The IDPE duration was shorter than the CE duration.

Conclusions: The feasibility of caries status assessment via IDPE is promising. Digital oral health evaluation merits further clinical consideration.

Trial registration: Xiamen University Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates, project number: 2018X0583. Registered 1 April 2018; http://cxw.xmu.edu.cn/admin/Innovation/NewInnovationDetail?id=6ce0a415-6131-496b-891a-6a1ae44e556d.

Keywords: Digital photograph; X-ray; and filled surfaces index; and filled teeth index; decayed; dental care; feasibility; missing; oral health; periodontal index.

Figure 1.

Digital intraoral photographs taken by professional dentists using cameras with auxiliary tools (reflectors, retractors and air gun). (a) Frontal photograph showing labial surfaces of anterior teeth; (b) right lateral photograph showing buccal surfaces of right posterior teeth; (c) left lateral photograph showing buccal surfaces of left posterior teeth; (d) frontal photograph showing the caries statuses of labial surfaces of lower anterior teeth; (e) maxillary dentition photograph showing palatal and occlusal surfaces of maxillary dentition; (f) mandibular dentition photograph showing lingual and occlusal surfaces of mandibular dentition.

Figure 2.

Correlation analyses of oral health status evaluations by CE and IDPE. (a) MGI; (b) PI; (c) DMFT index; (d) DMFS index. CE, clinical examination; DMFS, decayed, missing, and filled surfaces; DMFT, decayed, missing, and filled teeth; IDPE, intraoral digital photograph examination; MGI, Modified Gingival Index; PI, Plaque Index.