Quantification of tongue coating using quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital image analysis and its correlation with visual evaluation

• Main Authors: Raghavendra Shanbhog (Author), Gunica Harjai (Author), Saisaumya Tiwari (Author), Nandlal Bhojraj (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0970-4388; 1998-3905; 10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_446_23
• Keywords: oral hygiene; quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital; tongue coating; visual assessment; Dentistry; RK1-715
• Source: Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Vol 41, Iss 4, Pp 297-301 (2023)

Background: The tongue coating is a grayish-white deposit that quickly reflects the state of health or disease of the human body. Quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) is a novel digital imaging system that objectively quantifies tongue coating. Aims: The present study aims to evaluate the correlation between the visual assessment of tongue coating and tongue coating by analysis of QLF-digital (QLF-D) images. Settings and Design: This was an in vivo explorative study. Materials and Methods: Fifty children aged 11-13 years with clinically visible tongue coating were selected for the study. Tongue coating was assessed clinically by the Tongue Coating Index (Shimizu et al., 2007) and digitally by QLF-D Biluminator™ 2, C3 software. Statistical Analysis: Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS 23.0 software. Spearman's rho correlation test was done, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A statistically significant correlation was found between the visual assessment scoring and the QLF image analysis for the evaluation of tongue coating. Conclusion: The Digital QLF tongue imaging system was found to be reliable due to its correlation with the clinical score and objective nature.