Journal of Dental Research, Vol 56, 112-116, Copyright © 1977 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Color of gingival tissues of blacks and whites
J. M. Powers, J. A. Capp and A. Koran
Value, chroma, and hue of gingiva of 100 black and 100 white patients were
measured clinically with Munsell color tabs under fluorescent light and
under simulated daylight. The color of uniformly pigmented attached gingiva
of both blacks and whites was described most often by a value between 5/
and 7/, a chroma of /4, and a range of hues from 2.5R to 7.5R when
determined under fluorescent light. The color of gingiva pigmented by
melanin in 61 black patients was lower in value (3/ to 4/) and chroma (/1
to /2) but had a similar range of hues compared with uniformly pigmented
gingiva. The use of a simulated daylight source instead of a fluorescent
light present in the clinic resulted in a modest change in color described
by an I of no more than 3.6.
