Color Properties of Demineralized Enamel Surfaces Treated with a Resin Infiltration System

Abstract

To assess color properties of white spot lesions (WSLs) following resin infiltration treatment in vitro. WSLs were artificially created on 30 extracted human teeth. Two groups were formed: (a) control, and (b) resin infiltrant group (n = 15, each). Instrumental color measurements were performed using a spectrophotometer and visual color evaluation was performed by three independent evaluators. Color assessment was determined at three time points: baseline (T0), after WSL formation (T1), and after resin infiltrant or control treatment (T2). CIELAB color coordinates were determined and the resultant color difference (ΔE*) was calculated between the time points. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and One-way ANOVA analyses were used to evaluate the color changes. Pearson chi-square analysis was performed to evaluate the visual ratings between treatment and control groups. Level of significance was set p <0.05. After treatment of WSLs there was a significant color change (ΔE*) between treatment and control groups (p <0.05). Resin infiltration group showed a regression of all values toward the pretreatment levels. There was a significant difference in visual evaluation ratings between groups after treatment; treatment group had all surfaces receive a rating of being clinically acceptable, with 73% of these surfaces having no perceptible color difference to adjacent sound enamel. Meanwhile, control group received ratings of all surfaces having a visual color difference that was deemed as unacceptable (p < 0.05). In-vitro resin infiltration for the treatment of enamel WSLs produced a significant improvement in color, reverting L*, a*, and b* values back toward baseline values. Resin infiltration of enamel white spot lesions on teeth is capable of managing the esthetic problem by reverting the L*, a*, and b* color coordinates back to their baseline values. (J Esthet Restor Dent 28:339-346, 2016).