Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40915977›Full record

ArticleJournal of clinical periodontology2025

3D Method for the Volumetric Evaluation and Visualisation of Dental Biofilms: A Proof-of-Principle Study.

Katja Povšič, Haris Munjaković, Vanja Erčulj, Aleš Fidler, Rok Gašperšič

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of clinical periodontology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Katja PovšičDepartment of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.ORCID 0000-0002-5440-994X
Haris MunjakovićDepartment of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.ORCID 0000-0002-6918-4667
Vanja ErčuljRho Sigma Research & Statistics, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Aleš FidlerDepartment of Endodontics and Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Rok GašperšičDepartment of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Funding

Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Republic of Slovenia P3-0293
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectiveTraditional and planimetric plaque indices rely on plaque-disclosing agents and cannot quantify three-dimensional (3D) structures of dental biofilms. We introduce a novel computer-assisted method for evaluating and visualising plaque volume using intraoral scans (IOSs). MATERIALS AND

methodsThis was a 4-day, non-brushing, plaque-regrowth study (n = 15). All plaque was removed at baseline (T0). IOSs at T0 and after 4 days (T4) were used for volumetric plaque assessment in six steps: model acquisition, model superimposition, computer-aided determination of tooth-surface margins, tooth-surface superimposition, visualisation and volumetric evaluation of biofilms. Plaque formation at T4 was additionally assessed with the Turesky Modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (TMQHPlI). We used Pearson's correlation coefficients and multilevel models to investigate the relationships between TMQHPlI, volumetric plaque index (VPI) and the adjusted volumetric plaque index (AVPI, plaque volume/area).

resultsVPI and AVPI positively correlated with the TMQHPlI, showing higher variability at lower TMQHPlI scores. VPI had a lower threshold for plaque detection and higher sensitivity than the TMQHPlI. VPI and TMQHPlI were highest on vestibular, maxillary and molar surfaces.

conclusionVPI quantifies biofilm deposits, is a more precise measure for plaque detection than the TMQHPlI and can be visualised using colour-coded maps displaying areas of equal plaque thickness.

Indexed as

BiofilmsDental PlaqueImaging, Three-DimensionalAdultDental Plaque IndexFemaleHumansMaleProof of Concept Studycomputer‐assisted image analysisdental plaquedental plaque indexdiagnostic imagingdigital technologythree‐dimensional imaging

Identifiers

PMID40915977
PMCPMC12605725

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.