Site-Resolved Gingival Microcirculation and Colour Features in Health and Early Inflammation

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Oral Health Research

Background:

• Gingival microcirculation is crucial for tissue health.
• Early gingival inflammation lacks clear clinical indicators.
• Current methods may not fully capture microcirculatory changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize gingival microcirculation in health and early inflammation.
• To evaluate microcirculation's relationship with clinical parameters.
• To assess scan-derived gingival color metrics in relation to microcirculation.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional observational study.
• Assessed gingival microcirculation (O2C system: SO2, Hb, Flow) at papilla and keratinised gingival sites.
• Utilized intraoral scans for gingival color (CIE L*a*b*).

Main Results:

• Papillary microcirculation showed significant heterogeneity.
• Clinical parameters (PD, BOP) had limited associations with microcirculation.
• Gingival lightness (L*) inversely correlated with BOP, PD, and papillary Hb.

Conclusions:

• Papillary microcirculation is a measurable, heterogeneous feature in early inflammation.
• Routine probing poorly reflects microcirculatory status.
• Scan-derived gingival color, particularly lightness, provides complementary information on inflammation.