Table 1.

Verbal description of the segments of the Visual Analogue Scale

Oral health aspects	Segments of the VAS
	1 Acceptable	2 Not acceptable, moderate	3 Not acceptable, marked
Denture hygiene: Part of the inner surface covered with dental plaque or tartar	< 1/3	1/3–2/3	> 2/3
Oral hygiene: Part of the surface of teeth or denture retainers covered with dental plaque or tartar	< 1/3	1/3–2/3	> 2/3
Teeth	All teeth sound, adequately filled, maybe tooth wear	≥ 1 tooth broken, with decay, defect fillings, root remnants	a
Gums	Pink and firm, maybe minor aberration in color or texture	Moderate redness, swelling, glassy	Marked redness, swelling, bleeding, sores, wounds, fistulas
Tongue	Small bumps on upper and lateral surface, moist, pink	General redness, patches, extensive coating, deep grooves, dry	Red and/or white lesions, swelling, sores, wounds
Palate, oral surface of lips and cheeks	Smooth, moist, pink	General redness, rough, dry	Red and/or white lesions, swelling, sores, wounds

The criteria provided in this table were developed based on a review of the literature and several discussion rounds among the members of the research group

^aFor teeth, definition of the appearance of ‘not acceptable marked’ conditions was not considered meaningful

Verbal description of the appearance of dentures and oral tissues for each segment of the Visual Analogue Scale that was applied for assessment of the photographs