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Updated: Jul 23, 2025
Semi-Automated Planimetric Quantification of Dental Plaque Using an Intraoral Fluorescence Camera
Published on: January 27, 2023
Repeatability of dental plaque quantitation by light induced fluorescence technology in current, former, and never
Gianluca Conte1,2, Amaliya Amaliya3, Shipra Gupta4
1Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Background:
The effects of smoking on the accumulation of dental plaque have not been studied in depth. We compared dental plaque quantitation obtained with a novel light induced fluorescence technology among current, former, and never smokers and verified measurements' repeatability.
Methods:
Dental plaque quantitation was objectively assessed by quantitative light induced fluorescence (QLF) technology on three separate study visits in current, former, and never smokers: baseline (day 0), day 7, day 30. Increase in the fluorescence intensity of at least 30% (ΔR30) and 120% (ΔR120) together with the simple oral hygiene (SOH) scoring were considered for analysis.
Results:
The QLF parameters were highly repeatable in each study group (p < 0.0001, by regression analyses). All QLF parameters showed a significant difference between never smokers and current smokers (p = 0.041 for ΔR30; p = 0.027 for ΔR120; p = 0.04 for SOH). No significant differences were observed between never and former smokers and between current and former smokers except for ΔR120 (p = 0.033).
Conclusion:
Dental plaque measurements by QLF technology were highly reproducible and showed greater plaque formation among current smokers compared to non-smokers. Objective and reproducible quantitation of dental plaque can be a valuable clinical and regulatory science endpoint to investigate the effect of smoking cessation medications, combustion-free tobacco products, and consumer care products on oral health.
Clinical Relevance:
There is a need to objectively evaluate the relationship between smoking and plaque build-up as well as maturation. Current smokers demonstrated greater and more mature plaque buildup when compared to never and former smokers. Differences in plaque build-up and maturation between current, former and non-smokers may be utilized as an effective tool for patient motivation, identifying therapeutic end-points, translational research as well as prognostication.
Trial Registration:
The study is a pilot study parts of a larger project with registration ID: NCT04649645. As preliminary study, the pilot study referred into this paper started before the larger study registered in ClinicalTrials.gov.
