‘Selfies’ − an effective communication aid to solve periodontal and implant diseases

Patients often cannot see, or remember, where they have plaque/biofilm unless it is made clearly visible and memorable for them, by means of disclosing or the identification of marginal inflammation.

Generally speaking, most people are interested in how they look in most photographs. Taking multiple ‘selfies’ on their own smartphones which record their gum problems graphically is a powerful way to show patients where their plaque/biofilm is present and is causing their disease. This can be helped by using a device (Smile Line MDP) to hold patients' own mobile phones securely and this neat and inexpensive device provides decent illumination of the less visible plaque/biofilm areas inside their mouths (Figures 1 and 2).

Once a clinician recognizes that there is a periodontal problem present, it is often helpful for patients to have multi-coloured disclosing solution applied directly to their problematic areas in order to help them to visualize the startling colour changes of their own stained plaque. Photographing their appearance at that point with their camera on their smartphone cameras gives them a very good idea and helps them to remember where their problems are.