Preliminary study of video imaging of blood vessels in tissues lining the gingival sulcus in periodontally healthy individuals.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to obtain in vivo images of the microcirculation in tissues lining the gingival crevice in periodontally healthy volunteers and to assess the repeatability of the parameters measured. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Video microscopy images of the microcirculation of tissues lining the gingival crevice were obtained from 20 periodontally healthy volunteers. Images were obtained with a single 1 mm diameter 1 pitch gradient index lens with a high numerical aperture and with a plain glass lens and illumination with a green 525 nm light-emitting diode and recorded using a video microscope. RESULTS: The morphological features of the vessels (including vessel diameter, vessel density, loops, branches, dilated vessels) were similar to those described previously in other mammals. The Kappa values for the assessment of morphology of the vessels using the gradient index lens range from 0.83 for branching to 0.91 for dilated and using the glass lens 0.47 for branching and 0.38 for dilated. CONCLUSIONS: This novel system allowed for a consistent and repeatable assessment of the gingival microvasculature. However, there was some evidence of possible pressure artefacts in those cases where the measurements of separation between vessels exceeded 150 µm.

Simulação computadorizada do perfil facial em cirurgia ortognática: precisão cefalométrica e avaliação por ortodontistas / Prediction of soft-tissue profile by video imaging in orthognathic surgery: cephalometric accuracy and orthodontists' judgement

OBJETIVO: verificar a precisão de um programa de simulação computadorizada na predição de alterações no perfil facial em diferentes tipos de cirurgia ortognática. METODOLOGIA: utilizou-se radiografias e fotografias de perfil das fases pré-cirúrgica e final de 32 pacientes. As movimentações esqueléticas do procedimento cirúrgico foram reproduzidas no traçado pré-cirúrgico, gerando mudanças no perfil mole, originando o traçado e a imagem predictiva de perfil. Analisou-se o perfil da amostra total e dividida em dois grupos, sem cirurgias no sentido vertical (AP) e com cirurgias de impacção ou reposicionamento inferior da maxila (V). Comparou-se cefalometricamente pontos do perfil mole dos traçados predictivo e final. As imagens predictivas computadorizadas foram comparadas com as imagens finais por 20 ortodontistas, que avaliaram cinco regiões: perfil total, nariz, lábio superior, lábio inferior e mento. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: observou-se variabilidade de posicionamento dos pontos do perfil, com mais de 60 por cento dos erros até 2mm e 17 por cento acima de 3mm. Diferenças significativas entre os pontos foram mais freqüentes no sentido vertical. Os ângulos nasolabial e mentolabial predictivos apresentaram-se mais agudos que os finais. As notas médias encontradas na análise subjetiva variaram de 56 para o lábio inferior a 75,42 para o nariz. As imagens predictivas não apresentaram diferenças significativas de qualidade entre os grupos. Em comparação com outros sistemas de simulação computadorizada, este programa pode ser considerado útil na prática clínica ortodôntica e cirúrgica. Entretanto, diante de algumas limitações observadas, recomenda-se cautela no planejamento e apresentação do caso, considerando que algumas predições podem exigir melhorias com ferramentas de ajuste.

AIM: To verify the accuracy of a video imaging software on the soft tissue profile prediction of patients who underwent different types of orthognathic surgery. METHODS: Presurgical and posttreatment lateral cephalograms and photographs of 32 patients were used. Profile predictions were obtained from hard tissue manipulation on the presurgical tracings. Prediction evaluation was applied to the total sample and to subgroups with maxillary impaction or downgraft (V) or without surgeries in the vertical plane (AP). Points of prediction's soft tissue line were compared with those of the posttreatment tracing. Prediction and posttreatment profile images were subjectively compared by 20 orthodontists. Five regions (overall profile, nose, upper lip, lower lip and chin) were graded from 0 to 100 with a visual analog scale. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Soft-tissue profile points showed location variability, with more than 60 percent of the errors up to 2mm and 17 percent greater than 3mm. Statistically significant differences in the cephalometric analysis were more frequently observed on the vertical plane. Nasolabial and mentolabial prediction angles were more acute than those of the posttreatment tracings. The aesthetic analysis showed greater mean values in comparison with other studies, varying from 56.00 for the lower lip to 75.42 for the nose. Prediction images precision showed no significant difference between cases with or without vertical changes. This program can be considered useful in orthodontic and surgical clinical practice. However, based on some observed limitations, the authors recommend caution in treatment planning and case presentation, and some predictions may require improvement with enhancement tools.