title: Color Analysis of Periimplant Soft Tissues Focusing on Implant System: A Case Series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of implant system on color harmonization of periimplant mucosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case series, color of periimplant mucosa was compared with color of natural tooth gingiva. Seventeen intercanine implants were analyzed (11 bone level [BL], 6 tissue level [TL] implants). Colorimetric data, at 2, 4, and 6 mm from gingival margin, were collected through fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy, and color differences calculated as ΔE. Dentists, dental students, and lay people, in blind, performed an additional visual color analysis on clinical images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independently from implant system, the color of periimplant mucosa was significantly different from gingiva (ΔE = 8.2 ± 0.7), resulting darker at L* comparison (P ≤ 0.05). TL periimplant mucosa showed higher ΔE than BL (9.0 ± 1.0 vs 6.6 ± 0.8, respectively; P ≤ 0.05). Observers correctly identified where the implant was placed in about half of the cases, with no significant difference between implant systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limitations of this study, the color of periimplant soft tissues appears different from gingiva, at spectroscopic analysis. Color discrepancy results higher in the presence of TL implants than in BL implants, although the difference may not be clinically significant.
authors.affiliation: *Post Doc Researcher, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Clinica Odontoiatrica A.O. San Paolo of Milan, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. †Oral Surgeon and Associate Professor, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Clinica Odontoiatrica A.O. San Paolo of Milan, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. ‡Physics Technician, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy. §Oral Surgeon, Private practice, Kiral Dental Srl, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Varoni
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moltrasio
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gargano
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lodi
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scaringi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003116:Color; D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D023861:Photography, Dental; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants