Assessment of gingival characteristics by professional versus smartphone imaging

Accurate evaluation of gingival health requires understanding inflammation as a sign of disease activity or healing. Only a few studies have examined the gingiva in depth using non-invasive imaging techniques. Therefore, this study assessed the accuracy of evaluating gingival parameters using professional (Canon EOS 1300D, Canon Inc., Japan) and smartphone (iPhone 15 Pro, Apple Inc., USA) cameras, with pre- and post-treatment photographs.

Thirty-four patients with gingivitis were selected, and photographs 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 the images were evaluated using the free ImageJ software (US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA) with an accuracy of 0.01 mm. The paired t-test was used to compare gingival color values and clinical measurements. A P value of<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

There were no significant differences in gingival parameters between images taken using either professional or smartphone photography. The results showed no significant differences in gingival color assessment at 24-, 28-, and 32-cm distances between the two images.

Digital images obtained with DSLR and smartphone cameras showed comparable accuracy for gingival parameter measurements at the tested distances.