Photography or videography? A paradigm shift in dental clinical documentation

Clinical documentation is critical in dental practices. Its influence reaches beyond diagnosis and treatment planning to patient education and evidence-based research. Historically, this documentation has relied mainly on photographic recordings. However, in the present era of rapid technical breakthroughs, a paradigm shift has occurred from photography to videography, driven by the transition from digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras to mirrorless systems, which provide improved video capabilities. This article explores the technological journey from dental photography to videography, highlighting the need for revised and standardized clinical documenting methods to accommodate this changing landscape. It also includes a complete guide to maximizing the capabilities of mirrorless cameras and green screen technologies for the creation of high-quality video content. The essential element of protecting data privacy and security in the midst of these developments is also explored, providing a comprehensive view of the paradigm shift in dental clinical documentation.

COVID-19 decontamination procedures for photographic equipment in a secondary care setting

This article provides an overview of how long COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) survives on the built environment, and reviews currently available resources to provide recommendations on effective decontamination of photographic equipment based within a secondary care setting.

The reproducibility of electronic color measurements of the marginal gingiva

INTRODUCTION

This study evaluated the reproducibility of electronic color determination system evaluations of the marginal gingiva, which could be important for adhesive cervical fillings or prosthetic restorations that imitate the gingiva.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In 50 subjects, the L*, a*, and b* color coordinates were evaluated five times at a point in the marginal area of a central incisor using different electronic color determination systems: (SP) Shadepilot, (ES) Easyshade, (CE) Crystaleye, and (SV) X-Rite. The mean color difference (ΔE) and its standard deviation between the five measurements from each participant were calculated separately for each device. Further ICC for interdevice reliability was determined.

RESULTS

The L*, a*, and b* color coordinates and ΔE values differed significantly among the systems (p < 0.001). Within each patient and measurement system, ΔE ranged from 1.4 to 3.2 (SD 1.1-2.5), L* from 2.6 to 5.7 (SD 2.6-5.7), a* from 11.9 to 21.3 (SD 3.6-3.9), and b* from 15.1 to 28.9 (SD 1.7-4.3). Interdevice reliability ranged between 0.675 and 0.807.

CONCLUSIONS

Color determination of the marginal gingiva using the electronic tooth color determination systems tested herein showed limited reproducibility. The results obtained with the different measurement systems differed enormously.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

These results show that the electronic color measurement devices tested allow no high reproducible determination of color coordinates of the marginal gingiva.

Comparison of visual shade matching and electronic color measurement device

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare the performance of visual shade matching and spectrophotometric measurements.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 100 observers matched pairs of corresponding shade tabs from two VITA classical A1-D4 shade guides. The tab identifiers on one shade guide were masked. Lack of visible color differences between the corresponding tabs was confirmed by means of an intraoral spectrophotometer. Means and standard deviations were calculated. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) (α = 0.05) with a Bonferroni correction was performed to detect significance of differences between groups.

RESULTS

A total of 72.5% of tab pairs (or 11.6 tabs) were matched using the visual method, and 98.9% were matched using the spectrophotometer (P < 0.001). Female observers showed significantly better results than male observers (P = 0.027). Both genders showed the highest visual scores in group B, followed by groups C, A, and D.

CONCLUSIONS

Instrumental shade-matching systems have the potential to improve color matching in dentistry. Results were influenced by gender.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The dental spectrophotometer exhibited a significantly higher percentage of correct matches of corresponding shade tabs compared with conventional visual shade matching.

Are dental color measuring devices CIE compliant?

OBJECTIVES

This in vitro study evaluated the accordance of dental color measurement devices with a Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE)-compliant reference system, by comparing the CIE lightness, chroma, and hue (L*C*h°) color coordinates of ceramic samples.

METHODS

Four color measurement devices: Vita Easyshade® Advance (A); DeguDent Shadepilot™ (B); X-Rite® Shadevision (C); and Crystaleye Olympus (D), were compared with a CIE-compliant reference system by recording the L*C*h° color coordinates of ceramic samples matching the tooth colors of the Vita Linearguide 3D-Master®, under standardized test conditions. Differences between regression lines for the dental color measurement device data and regression lines for the CIE-compliant reference system data were evaluated.

RESULTS

All devices offered high intraclass correlation coefficients (0.9771- 0.9999) for the L*C*h° color coordinates. The regression lines of the L* and C* coordinates for device A were steeper than those of the CIE-compliant reference system; the regression lines for devices B, C, and D were nearly parallel to those of the reference system, but with an offset. The regression lines of the h° coordinates for all devices were almost parallel to those of the reference system, with slopes near 1. Excluding the L* and h° coordinate measurements of device A, the measurements with the devices exhibited deviations from the reference system that were greater than those expected by chance (P < 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

The dental color measurement devices assessed here offered excellent reproducibility, but showed significant deviations from the CIE-compliant reference system regarding the L*C*h° color coordinates.

Repeatability of color-measuring devices

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to evaluate the intra- and interdevice repeatability in different tooth regions using three color-measuring devices under clinical conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen shade measurements (cervical, body, incisal) were recorded on 15 patients by one investigator using three color-measuring devices (VITA Easyshade compact, DeguDent Shadepilot, X-Rite ShadeVision). CIE Lab values were determined for all maxillary anterior teeth. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to statistically analyze intra-and inter-device repeatability for different tooth regions. Color differences (ΔE) between measurements were also computed to evaluate the clinical acceptability of repeatability values. The data were evaluated using analysis of variance and Bonferroni's adjustment to control for multiple testing. Differences were deemed significant when P < 0.016.

RESULTS

The three color-measuring devices generally exhibited high repeatability of color coordinates for all tooth regions (ICC > 0.516-0.986, ΔE < 3.03). In contrast, inter-device repeatability was lower for all tooth regions (ICC = 0.010-0.922, ΔE = 4.06-16.04).

CONCLUSIONS

High intra-device repeatability of color coordinates could be achieved for all tooth regions when the same color-measuring device was used. However, because of low inter-device repeatability, results using different color-measuring devices are not comparable.

[All-ceramic restorations in the esthetic zone--the problem of choice]

The restoration of anterior teeth even for the experienced practitioner remains a challenge. Although there are different full-ceramic materials available on the market, the reproduction of optical properties in natural teeth is not easy at all. In this article, the author presents a simplified classification of teeth to be restored, in relation to the optical properties of actual ceramic systems, which helps to make the natural reproduction more predictable. For the dentist it's important to know about the optical properties of the teeth to be restored and the ceramic material used. Without this, the clinical success of restorations in the anterior segment of may not be predictable at all. For implant retained-and bridge-work there are additional parameters that need to be taken into consideration which are not addressed in this article. Ceramic materials with a high light transmission allow, in combination with adhesive bonding, the fabrication of esthetic restorations. High strength ceramics block the light more and therefore are not indicated for this type of reconstruction. They may be used to mask discolored substructures. The communication between dentist and lab technician plays an important role to be clinically successful.

Prefabricated composite veneers: historical perspectives, indications and clinical application

Veneering anterior teeth is a well-established technique, which was brought to Dentistry by Dr Pincus as early as 1937. From the mid-1970s, boosted by the development of composites and adhesive techniques, various concepts emerged including direct composite restorations, prefabricated composite veneers and of course, individualized porcelain indirect veneers. The prefabricated composite veneer option was however soon abandoned due to former technological limitations. Recently, the creation of a new shade guide comprising enamel shells revitalized this "old idea," and in combination with a high pressure and temperature molding process followed by a laser surface vitrification, a novel, improved composite prefabricated system (Venear, Edelweiss Dentistry) was born. This paper provides an overview of the potential indications and clinical protocol of this original veneering technique.