Quantitative analysis of gingival vascular morphology using optical coherence tomography angiography in induced gingivitis

This study evaluated optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) for monitoring gingival vascular changes during induced inflammation and resolution. Twelve healthy participants abstained from brushing for 14 days, followed by 14 days of resumed oral hygiene. Vascular changes were quantified using vessel area density (VAD), vessel skeleton density (VSD), and vessel diameter index (VDI). VSD showed minimal change, whereas VAD increased by 13.6% and VDI by 10.1% at peak inflammation (P < 0.01). Participants were classified as high or low responders based on their gingival response. OCTA enabled site-specific, noninvasive assessment of gingival inflammation, detecting early microvascular alterations during disease progression.