Evaluation of the margins and gingival status of full-crown restorations using a household intraoral camera

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the usefulness of intraoral photographs, acquired with a household intraoral camera operating in conventional, calibrated, and polarized modes, with clinical examinations for assessing the margins and gingival status of full-crown restorations.Methods: The clinical examination is performed by a prosthodontist expert who classifies the marginal status of full-crown restorations according to the FDI World Dental Federation, and periodontal expert who classifies the gingival status according to the Modified Gingival Index (MGI). The margins and gingival status of the conventional, calibration, and polarization groups of full-crown restorations were independently assessed by three evaluators who obtained photographs using an intraoral camera. Cases where at least two of three assessors were in agreement were analyzed using Cohen’s kappa coefficient and the chi-square test were calculated.Results: This study included 40 patients with 54 full-crown restorations. The conventional, calibration, and polarization groups differed significantly in marginal and gingival status of full-crown restorations. In the calibration group, there was good agreement between the camera-based and oral clinical examinations in terms of the gingival status of full-crown restorations (kappa = 0.945); this was also the case in the polarization group with respect to the margins of full-crown restorations (kappa = 0.917).Conclusions: An intraoral camera with black and white calibrated images is useful to assess the gingival status of full-crown restorations. Polarization mode can be used to assess the margins of full-crown restorations. The camera is a feasible and valid diagnostic aid.