Color Range and Color Distribution of Healthy Human Gingiva: a Prospective Clinical Study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compile a comprehensive database on color range and color distribution of healthy human gingiva by age, gender and ethnicity. Spectral reflection of keratinized gingiva at upper central incisors was measured by spectroradiometer and converted into CIELAB values. Lightness range (ΔL*) for all groups together was 26.8. Corresponding a* (green-red) and b* (blue-yellow) ranges (Δa* and Δb*) were 18.3 and 13.0. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were recorded by age for L* and a* coordinates, by gender for b* coordinate, and by ethnicity for L*, a* and b* coordinates. R2-values between color coordinates were 0.01 (L*/a*), 0.03 (L*/b*), and 0.12 (a*/b*). The smallest color differences were recorded between age groups 46–60 and 60 + (ΔE* = 0.9), and between Caucasians and Hispanics (ΔE* = 1.1). Color difference by gender was 1.3. When total L*a*b* ranges were divided into four equal segments, 51.7% of subjects had L* value within the third segment (from lightest to darkest), 47.1% had a* value within the third segment (from less red to redder), and 59.3% had b* value within the second segment (from less yellow to yellower). It was found that ethnicity and age had statistically significant influence on the color of human gingiva.

Color difference thresholds for computer‐simulated human Gingiva

“…Color difference thresholds for computer‐simulated human gingiva were determined based on a recent study that included subdivision of healthy human gingiva by ethnicity, age and gender . It was found that ethnicity and age had statistically significant influence on color of gingiva.…”

“…CIELAB color coordinates of healthy keratinized gingiva of 238 subjects (subdivided by ethnicity, age, and gender), reported in a previous study, were used to represent computer‐simulated gingiva. The color coordinate ranges of simulated gingiva were as follows: L * = 50.9 – 57.0, a * = 22.9 – 27.0, and b * = 12.5 – 15.3.…”

“…Increased awareness, esthetic and cosmetic demands of patients, and advances in dental materials, color measuring instruments, dental photography and overall technology, elevated the expectations from dental treatment . Conversely, the task of color matching, communicating and reproducing is still challenging given that color of human teeth encompasses less than 1% of the colors the eye can perceive, and the same is true for the color range of gingiva …”

Antifungal, optical, and mechanical properties of polymethylmethacrylate material incorporated with silanized zinc oxide nanoparticles

“…The most commonly utilized color system for color assessment is the CIELAB system, which defines the color characteristics as L*, a*, and b*. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26] L* represents brightness, a* represents the red-green coordinates, and b* represents the yellow-blue coordinates. The CIELAB system can mathematically express the color difference (∆E) between the two objects.…”

A prospective clinical trial to assess the optical efficacy of pink neck implants and pink abutments on soft tissue esthetics

“…Normal color variance on the intraoral soft tissue exists at the population level based on age and ethnicity . Furthermore, even within an individual, normal color variance exists.…”