Effect of Light-Curable Fluoride Varnish and Conventional Topical Fluoride Varnish on Prevention of Enamel Demineralization Adjacent to Orthodontic Brackets: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Objectives: Various fluoride varnishes have shown promising result in preventing enamel demineralization around orthodontic brackets as they do not depend on patient compliance. The objective of the study was to compare the effect of light-curable fluoride varnish (Clinpro XT) and conventional topical fluoride varnish (Fluoritop SR) in preventing enamel demineralization adjacent to orthodontic brackets. Methods: 20 patients who required extraction of four first premolars for orthodontic treatment were bonded with orthodontic brackets and each premolar received single application of Clinpro XT and Fluoritop SR fluoride varnish in 2 diagonally opposite quadrants and rest 2 premolars acted as control. The sample teeth were debonded and extracted after 1 month and 2 months of varnish application. The samples were sectioned using hard tissue microtome and evaluated under polarized light microscopy to measure the depth of demineralization. Results: Kolmogorov Smirnov test showed normal distribution of data. Comparison between the study groups with depth of demineralization scores showed statistically significant variation in one-way analysis of variance test. Turkey’s multiple post hoc procedures showed statistically significant difference in the depth of demineralization between all the 3 groups after 1 month and 2 months. Dependent t test showed statistically significant increment in the depth of demineralization in all the 3 groups between 1 month and 2 months. Conclusion: This study concluded that single application of both Fluoritop SR and Clinpro XT was effective in reducing significant depth of demineralization compared to control. Clinpro XT showed significantly less demineralization compared to Fluoritop SR after 1 month and 2 months of varnish application.