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. 2022 Oct;49(10):961-969.
doi: 10.1111/joor.13352. Epub 2022 Jun 30.

Assessing masticatory performance with a colour-mixing ability test using smartphone camera images

Martin Schimmel  1   2 , Elias Rachais  1 , Nadin Al-Haj Husain  1 , Frauke Müller  2 , Murali Srinivasan  2   3 , Samir Abou-Ayash  1
Affiliations

Assessing masticatory performance with a colour-mixing ability test using smartphone camera images

Martin Schimmel et al. J Oral Rehabil. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Colour-mixing ability tests are frequently used to assess masticatory performance, but the image acquisition process may be cumbersome and technique sensitive.

Objectives: To evaluate the reliability of smartphone camera images in assessing masticatory performance using a colour-mixing ability test.

Methods: Participants were recruited into three groups of dental state (n = 20 each): fully dentate, removable partial denture wearers and complete denture wearers. After performing a colour-mixing ability test, images of the gum specimens (Hue-Check Gum©) were captured with two smartphones and compared with the images obtained from a flatbed scanner by two examiners. The images were analysed with a subjective- (SA) and an opto-electronical assessment (VoH). Inter- and intra-rater reliability were tested. ANOVA models with repeated measures were used for statistical analysis (⍺ = .05).

Results: All three image acquisition techniques were able to distinguish masticatory performance between different dental states. For SA, inter-rater reliability was fair to substantial and intra-rater reliability was substantial to almost perfect. For VoH, inter-rater reliability with the smartphones was at times different between two examiners, but the intra-rater assessment was reliable. The opto-electronic analysis with smartphone images underestimated the masticatory performance significantly when compared to the flatbed scanner analysis. Seven-day ageing of the specimens did not significantly affect the results.

Conclusions: The assessment of masticatory performance with the Hue-Check Gum© is a reliable method. The use of smartphones may occasionally underestimate masticatory performance; image acquisition with a flatbed scanner remains the gold standard. A centralised analysis of the photographed wafer may foster the reliability of the diagnosis.

Keywords: ViewGum; colour-mixing ability; hue-check gum; masticatory performance; smartphone.

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Conflict of interest statement

Martin Schimmel is a member of the oral function scientific advisory board for Sunstar Suisse SA (Etoy, Switzerland). All other authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
(A and B) Bland–Altman plot for assessing the limits of agreement between the method Samsung, and iPhone, respectively, and the gold‐standard Scanner. Horizontal line is the mean difference (middle dash line) and the limits of agreement (95% Confidence intervals, upper and lower dash line)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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