A scoping review of new technologies for dental plaque quantitation: Benefits and limitations

Giusy Rita Maria La Rosa; Iain Chapple; Riccardo Polosa; Eugenio Pedullà

doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104772

A scoping review of new technologies for dental plaque quantitation: Benefits and limitations

J Dent. 2023 Dec:139:104772. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104772. Epub 2023 Nov 7.

Authors

Giusy Rita Maria La Rosa¹, Iain Chapple², Riccardo Polosa³, Eugenio Pedullà⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. Electronic address: g_larosa92@live.it.
² Periodontal Research Group, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical & Dental Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
³ Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
⁴ Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.

PMID: 37939996
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104772

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the validity and reliability of novel digitalized tools for dental plaque detection and explore the benefits and limitations connected to their use.

Data: Reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews. All human clinical studies comparing dental plaque detection using digitalized systems against a standard reference were included.

Sources: PubMed and Scopus were screened from 01 January 2013 to 28 September 2023. Bibliographies of primary studies and principal peer-reviewed scientific journals were manually searched.

Study selection: The initial search identified 576 articles, with a total of 13 included in the review, published between 2015 and 2023. Most of the studies included (77 %) were cross-sectional with three being prospective. Digital devices captured 2D and 3D images via cameras and intra-oral scanners, respectively. The Turesky's modified plaque index was the most frequent clinical index. Correlation with clinical examination was moderate to strong, with good to excellent intra- and inter-system agreement.

Conclusions: Within the limitations of this scoping review, image analysis-based plaque detection systems demonstrated good correlations with clinical plaque indices, using both 2D and 3D imaging systems. Whilst digital plaque detection devices offer advantages in terms of procedural standardization and reproducibility, they also have limitations, therefore currently, their application should be underpinned by a comprehensive clinical examination.

Clinical significance: Digital plaque detection tools, that provide standardized measurements and store acquired images, facilitate more informed feedback to patients. This objective analysis may enhance clinician confidence in their utility for clinical trials and other applications.

Keywords: 3D image analysis; Clinical plaque indices; Dental plaque; Digital camera; Fluorescence; Oral health; Scoping review.

Publication types

Systematic Review
Review

MeSH terms

Dental Plaque Index
Dental Plaque* / diagnosis
Humans
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Prospective Studies
Reproducibility of Results